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| SYNDIGO1. Photo: Nova Chemicals |
NOVA Chemicals Corporation (“NOVA Chemicals”) announced the commissioning of its first polyethylene (PE) film recycling facility, “SYNDIGO1,” located in Connersville, Ind. The facility is one of the largest and most sophisticated plastic film mechanical recycling facilities in the world. SYNDIGO1 spans 450,000 sq.ft. and will recycle 145,000 bales of end-of-life plastic film to produce over 100 million lbs. of SYNDIGO™ recycled PE (rLLDPE), suitable for food- and non-food grade packaging applications. Full production is expected by early 2026.
In July 2023, NOVA announced the intention to build the facility and work with Novolex to operate the facility, capitalizing on its nearly 20 years of experience in operating plastic film recycling facilities. In 2024, the facility’s mechanical recycling process received a first-of-its-kind Letter of Non-Objection (LNO) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration confirming its ability to produce post-consumer rLLDPE that is suitable for food-contact applications. In April 2025, the facility achieved the Recycled Material Standard certification from Green Blue, which verifies that the SYNDIGO recycled polyethylene produced at the facility is 100% post-consumer recycled content. Today, three of four lines are in operation, and the facility will be fully operational by the end of 2025.
Quality feedstock and reducing plastic waste from the environment
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| Feedstock for the facility. Photo: Nova Chemicals |
SYNDIGO1 in Connersville works with major retailers and distribution centers across the U.S. to collect back-of-store polyethylene film which provides consistent and clean feedstock for recycled PE. The facility will collect on average 400 bales of plastic film each day, or 14,000 bales each month. For context, the film collected and diverted from landfills each year is equivalent to filling four professional football fields to the top of the goal posts.
Plastic film waste will be processed into pellets and sold as NOVA Chemicals’ SYNDIGO recycled linear, low-density polyethylene (rLLDPE), which is suitable for a wide variety of packaging applications—from trash can liners to food packaging. A grade of SYNDIGO rLLDPE has FDA compliance for all food types under Conditions of Use B through H and can be used to add recycled content for the full scope of food packaging applications including pantry staples, refrigerator items, and freezer packaging.
