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Recycler  announced it has received a letter of no objection from the FDA. The letter pertains to the company’s LDPE recycling operation in Riverbank, CA.

The letter recognizes that Circulus has demonstrated its process can produce new plastic which is safe for food-contact applications. The company has had a goal of attaining the letter since its inception in 2019.

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“We see larger demands from CPGs, brands, converters—everyone is wanting to put mechanically recycled plastics to their highest and best use. By obtaining the FDA LNO, we’ve shown that we’re able to hit that highest and best use.” says David Hudson, founder and chief strategy officer at Circulus.

Recycling a soft plastic like LDPE film is considered more challenging than a rigid plastic such as a PET bottle. This is both due to the physical form factor and much lower availability from material recovery facilities. 

The FDA letter clears a path to food-contact applications.
Photo: Getty

Circulus anticipates the FDA letter will allow its products to be used in a much wider range of applications, completing a circle from post-consumer collection all the way back to store shelves. “Having that completely circular dynamic to our products is very important to us,” says Hudson.

Circulus plans to seek the LNO at its future facilities as well, one of which is currently under construction in Alabama.