Unilever and SCGC Roll Out ASEAN’s First ISCC PLUS-Certified Food-Grade Recycled Packaging

Photo Credit: SCGC 

According to a joint announcement reported by Unilever Thailand and SCG Chemicals (SCGC), the two companies have introduced ASEAN’s first food-grade packaging made from ISCC PLUS-certified recycled resins. The innovation will be used for Knorr Professional products in Thailand and Vietnam, representing a regional milestone in sustainable food packaging.

The new packaging is produced with SCGC GREEN POLYMER™ advanced recycling technology, which transforms used plastics into circular naphtha feedstock. This is further processed into certified circular polyolefin resins that have the same performance as virgin plastics but meet international safety requirements for direct food contact. The certification, verified under the ISCC PLUS standard across the supply chain, makes SCGC the first in Thailand’s petrochemical industry to secure such recognition.

Kulnipa Lertpimonchai, Managing Director for Unilever Food Solutions across Southeast Asia, highlighted the company’s priorities: “For Unilever, sustainability is at the heart of everything we do. We are deeply committed to reducing plastic use - from packaging design to offering environmentally friendly alternatives. This collaboration with SCGC, starting from the design phase, reflects our drive to develop and deliver eco-friendly choices for both consumers and business partners.”

SCGC’s Chief Commercial Officer, Chatri Eamsobhana, emphasized the technical leap: “This partnership with Unilever marks a significant milestone as we leverage our advanced recycling technology. The process, developed by SCGC, uses a catalyst that enables recycling at lower temperatures, reducing energy consumption, being environmentally friendly, and mitigating plastic waste accumulation in the country.”

The certified resins ensure food safety by preventing harmful residues, while the recycling process itself uses a catalyst that lowers required temperatures, reducing energy consumption. According to SCGC, the initiative will help cut plastic waste by 30,000 kilograms annually.

The move comes as governments in ASEAN intensify regulations on single-use plastics, aligning with global sustainability goals. Industry analysts note that consumer goods companies are under growing pressure to integrate circular economy principles, and food-grade recycled packaging represents one of the hardest categories to achieve due to strict safety standards. The collaboration between Unilever and SCGC could serve as a blueprint for scaling advanced recycling across the region.

By combining innovation with certification, Unilever and SCGC are signaling a new era of safe, sustainable packaging in ASEAN’s food sector. The initiative directly supports Unilever’s target of 25% recycled plastic use in packaging by 2025 and SCGC’s ambition to return 500,000 tons of used plastic to the circular economy annually by 2030.

Source: SCG Chemicals (SCGC)