Circulus receives OK to produce PCR for food

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has sent a letter of nonobjection (LNO) to Houston-based Circulus Holdings PBLLC certifying that its recycling process in Riverbank, California, is able to produce 100-percent-recycled postconsumer resin (PCR) suitable for direct-food-contact packaging applications.

"This is a huge step forward for Circulus, the circular economy, and for the sustainable packaging industry," says Craig Foster, CEO of Circulus. "Our customers want mechanically recycled resin suitable for the broadest use of applications, and Circulus now has the ability to meet this demand."

Circulus produces PCR from low-density polyethylene at its Riverbank site. With the LNO, Circulus says suitable food packaging applications for its PCR include direct contact for room temperature, refrigerated and frozen goods.

"From its inception, Circulus has been committed to the goal of producing resin for consumer-facing products and packaging," says David Hudson, founder and chief strategy officer at Circulus. "This development provides important and independent validation that we have achieved our goal, allowing us to move forward in this important market for recycled materials."

Circulus is a portfolio company of Ara Partners, a private equity firm that specializes in decarbonization investments. The company also produces PCR at a facility in Ardmore, Oklahoma.