Borealis launches flexible packaging grade with 85% PCR content

Introducing Borcycle™ M CWT120CL. Photos: © Borealis

Borealis introduces Borcycle™ M CWT120CL, a high-performance, recycled linear low density polyethylene grade (rLLDPE) designed to advance circularity in non-food flexible packaging. Produced with 85% post-consumer recyclate (PCR) and 15% LLDPE booster, it’s ideal for high-end applications where sustainability and circularity matter.

The rLLDPE is the newest flexible packaging grade based on Borcycle M, Borealis’ mechanical recycling technology that delivers high-quality materials in an energy-efficient way. Creating an LLDPE grade with 85% post-consumer recyclate content is a significant technical achievement, marking another milestone in Borealis’ ambition to accelerate the transition to a circular economy.

The new grade is tailored for blown film applications across primary, secondary, and tertiary packaging. Key applications include stretch film and stretch hood, and films for agricultural, industrial, and protective uses. 

Key applications enabled by the new grade Borcycle™ M CWT120CL include stretch film and stretch hood

Borcycle M CWT120CL was developed together with Ecoplast—a member of the Borealis Group—in a project that began in late 2022. Its launch in January 2025 marks the culmination of more than two years of work to overcome the complexities of incorporating a high proportion of recycled content while meeting the demanding performance standards required for flexible packaging.

According to company, the result is a material with exceptional stretchability, achieved through low gel content, as well as an excellent toughness-stiffness balance. These properties make it an ideal solution for packaging manufacturers seeking to meet or exceed the requirements of the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) without compromising performance.

Samples based on Borcycle™ M CWT120CL will be presented at PRSE Amsterdam, 1–2 April 2025.