PureCycle, Mitsui and RM TOHCELLO Partner to Introduce Recycled Polypropylene into Japan’s Flexible Packaging Market

According to company reports, PureCycle Technologies has entered into a strategic partnership with RM TOHCELLO Co., Ltd. and Mitsui & Co., Ltd. to commercialize recycled polypropylene (PP) for biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP) film in Japan. The collaboration aims to expand the use of high-purity recycled resin in flexible packaging, a market where recycled polypropylene has traditionally struggled to meet performance requirements.

The partnership builds on technical collaboration that began in the first quarter of 2023, when RM TOHCELLO evaluated samples of PureCycle’s PureFive® recycled resin supplied through PureCycle and Mitsui. Following successful laboratory testing, the companies completed pilot-scale production trials and are now preparing to introduce the material to packaging converters and consumer goods companies in Japan.

The partners expect to finalize a commercial agreement in 2027, with product shipments scheduled to begin after the necessary import regulatory requirements have been satisfied.

BOPP film is widely used in food packaging, labels and consumer products, where high optical clarity, consistency and mechanical performance are essential. Conventional mechanically recycled polypropylene has generally been unable to meet these specifications, limiting the use of recycled content in one of the packaging industry's largest and highest-value applications.

PureCycle’s proprietary dissolution recycling technology removes colors, additives, odors and other contaminants from post-consumer polypropylene waste, producing recycled resin with properties comparable to virgin material. The company said its PureFive® resin has been independently certified and successfully evaluated across a range of demanding applications.

“This partnership represents exactly the kind of step-change we envisioned when PureCycle’s technology was developed,” said Wiebe Schipper, Vice President of European and Asia Pacific Operations at PureCycle. “The fact that we have now successfully completed trials with one of the world’s premier film producers is a powerful validation of what our resin can do.”

RM TOHCELLO said the collaboration could help expand recycled content in flexible packaging while supporting emissions reduction efforts.

“Flexible films are one of the fastest growing segments in packaging and we’ve been waiting for a solution like PureCycle’s to allow us to start using recycled content in BOPP film and PP sealant film,” said Masaru Furukawa, Executive Officer and Head of Business Sector at RM TOHCELLO. He added that the company plans to work with value chain partners to develop commercial applications for the new materials.

Mitsui, which has collaborated with PureCycle on market development, will support the commercialization of the recycled polypropylene in Japan as demand grows for packaging materials that meet both performance and sustainability requirements.

Source: PureCycle

SUNSHINE Spotlight: The partnership marks a significant step toward introducing high-purity recycled polypropylene into Japan's flexible packaging sector, expanding circular material applications in one of the industry’s most technically demanding markets.