September 24, 2025 14:29

The Prevented Ocean Plastic (POP) programme for the recovery of ocean-bound plastic waste has achieved European Union food-contact approval (EU 2022/1616) for its recycled polypropylene (rPP). This makes it the first rPP authorised for food-contact applications in Europe.

The initiative brings together major partners across the value chain, including Innovia Films (a division of CCL Industries), Spectra Packaging, Bantam Materials UK (owner of the programme), Petman using Starlinger Viscotec recycling technology, and Circulate Capital, with the support of Danone.

Last year, Danone and Prevented Ocean Plastic opened a collection hub in East Borneo to recover polypropylene cups, which are now recycled in a closed-loop process into high-quality rPP.