ICIS has introduced a new rLDPE pellet price assessment for Europe as the recycled plastics market becomes more segmented ahead of new regulatory requirements.
The new flexible natural transparent rLDPE pellet price has been added to ICIS’ existing rPE pricing service. The company has also updated the names of two existing rLDPE natural transparent pellet assessments to provide clearer market definitions.
The changes reflect developments in the European rLDPE market, which is evolving as the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) introduces mandatory recycled content targets for plastics packaging from 2030.
Melt flow index
The new assessment covers flexible natural transparent rLDPE pellets with a melt flow index (MFI) of 1.5-2.0.
The two existing assessments have been renamed to cover rLDPE rigid natural transparent pellets with an MFI of 0.3-0.8 and rLDPE flexible natural transparent pellets with an MFI of 0.8-1.5.
Matt Tudball, senior editor of recycling at ICIS, said the new grade reflects changes in the use of rLDPE materials.
“The new MFI 1.5-2.0 pellet is produced from flexible natural post-commercial bales, usually a 98/2 or higher quality bale, which are put through an additional sorting step to produce a more LLDPE-rich pellet used in stretch film applications,” he said.
“We have seen a shift in the use of rLDPE material since ICIS first started pricing the market in 2019, with the packaging sector becoming increasingly dominant due to intensifying legislation.”
Growing demand
Tudball added that the new higher MFI grade represents growing demand for rLDPE natural transparent pellets with technical properties that can complement or replace virgin LDPE or LLDPE materials.
ICIS said adding greater MFI detail to its natural transparent pellet assessments will help provide a more detailed view of the rLDPE market as companies prepare for the implementation of the PPWR.
The company tracks more than 100 grades across global circular plastics markets, including rPET, rPE, rPP, mixed plastics waste, agglomerates, pyrolysis oil, and bio-naphtha.
