Revolution expands film lineup with Norflex buy

Revolution Sustainable Solutions acquired Norflex, a Wisconsin-based producer of agricultural and industrial films, the companies announced July 9.

The acquisition is the latest move in Revolution’s expansion of its sustainable stretch and shrink film businesses, and the addition will strengthen the company’s sustainable agriculture offerings, Revolution said in a press release.

Norflex’s market reach and technological capabilities – including reducing overall film use by requiring less material in its products – will complement Revolution’s current PCR efforts, according to the release.  

“With the acquisition of Norflex, Revolution has not yet set specific targets for PCR content by a certain timeframe,” Louis Vasquez, vice president of business development at Revolution, told Plastics Recycling Update. “We are in the process of aligning with this new customer base on opportunities to add PCR to products they use and will roll out such products on a measured basis, ensuring top quality and consistency throughout the process.”

Revolution’s current plastics lineup contains a range of PCR content depending on the end-user’s requirements, Vasquez said, including can liners with up to 100% PCR and on average 70% PCR.

In January, Arkansas-based Revolution acquired Canadian film recycler PolyAg. At that time, Revolution CEO Sean Whiteley told Plastics Recycling Update the company had a “robust pipeline of additional acquisition targets that will continue to augment the sustainable circular solutions product offerings that are the heartbeat of our company.” 

In addition to a portfolio of commercial bags, food packaging and sheeting containing PCR, Revolution offers mechanically recycled post-consumer LLDPE resin as well as post-industrial LDPE, LLDPE, HDPE and PP resin. 

In the North American agricultural sector, Revolution has provided collection and recycling for used agricultural films, converting the material into PCR for new film products such as can liners, carryout bags and stretch film, the company said.

In late 2020, Revolution signed a deal to supply post-consumer LDPE and LLDPE to NOVA Chemicals in Canada.