Letters of no objection allow companies to begin marketing their recycled resin for food-contact uses. | Konektus/Shutterstock
Two dozen companies received the go-ahead from the Food and Drug Administration to use recycled plastic in food-contact packaging during the second half of 2024. The companies span North America, Africa, Europe and Asia, and their processes include mechanical and chemical recycling.
Letters of no objection issued by the U.S. FDA allow their recipients to begin marketing their recycled resin for use in food and drink packaging, subject to any limitations spelled out by the agency.
In issuing the letters, the FDA was convinced the recycling processes would result in contaminant concentrations of 0.5 parts per billion or less in the food, below its “threshold of regulatory concern.”
Plastics Recycling Update publishes a roundup of LNOs twice each year. The last roundup, which was published in September 2024, covered letters issued during the first half of 2024. The federal database of all FDA LNOs is available here.
The FDA has not posted any LNOs so far in 2025, marking an unusual gap in publication. The agency didn’t respond to a request for comment on the lapse.
The following are summaries of LNOs issued during the second half of 2024, starting with the most recent letters:
On Dec. 31, JB Ecotex Limited, headquartered in India, received an LNO for mechanically recycling PET into packaging in contact with all food types, with allowed temperatures ranging from frozen up to over 150 degrees Fahrenheit during hot filling or pasteurization. The feedstock must come from recycled food-contact packaging.
Additionally, on Oct. 23, JB Ecotex sister company JB rPET Industries, also based in India, received an LNO for chemically recycling PET into packaging in contact with all food types. Allowed temperatures range from frozen up to over 150 degrees Fahrenheit during hot filling or pasteurization.
On Dec. 20, Dalian Hiscien Engineering Co., headquartered in China, received an LNO for mechanically recycling PET into packaging in contact with all food types, with allowed temperatures ranging from frozen to over boiling. The feedstock must come from recycled food-contact packaging.
On Dec. 18, Blue Polymers, a U.S. joint venture of Republic Services and Ravago, received an LNO for mechanically recycling PP into packaging in contact with raw fruits, vegetables, shell eggs and other solid foods without free fats or oils, with allowed temperatures ranging from frozen to room temperature. The feedstock must come from recycled food-contact packaging.
Blue Polymers received another LNO on Dec. 2, covering mechanical recycling of HDPE into packaging with the same allowed contact and feedstock requirements.
On Dec. 11, Shanghai Re-mall Environmental Protection New Material Co. and several subsidiaries, based in China, received an LNO for mechanically recycling HDPE into packaging in contact with raw fruits, vegetables, shell eggs and other solid foods without free fats or oils, with allowed temperatures ranging from frozen to room temperature. The feedstock must come from recycled food-contact packaging.
On Dec. 10, Safar Ecopet, based in India, received an LNO for mechanically recycling PET into packaging in contact with all food types, with allowed temperatures ranging from frozen up to over 150 degrees Fahrenheit during hot filling or pasteurization.
On Dec. 10, Polyfit, headquartered in California, received an LNO for mechanically recycling LDPE and LLDPE into packaging in contact with raw fruits, vegetables, shell eggs and other solid foods without free fats or oils, with allowed temperatures ranging from frozen to room temperature.
On Nov. 27, Plastiko, based in Missouri, received an LNO for mechanically recycling PP into packaging in contact with all food types, with allowed temperatures ranging from frozen up to higher than boiling.
On Nov. 13, DIC Corporation, headquartered in Japan, received an LNO for mechanically recycling PS into packaging trays in contact with all food types, with allowed temperatures from frozen up to higher than boiling. The trays can also be used during cooking at higher than boiling temperatures. The feedstock must come from recycled food-contact packaging.
On Oct. 22, Uflex, based in India, received an LNO for mechanically recycling LDPE and LLDPE into packaging in contact with raw fruits, vegetables, shell eggs and other solid foods without free fats or oils, with allowed temperatures ranging from frozen to room temperature. The feedstock must come from recycled food-contact packaging.
On Oct. 9, Polyplex Corporation, headquartered in India, received an LNO for chemically recycling PET into packaging in contact with all food types and all temperatures.
On Sept. 25, Kingfa, based in China, received an LNO for mechanically recycling HDPE into packaging in contact with all food types, with allowed temperatures between frozen and over 150 degrees Fahrenheit during hot filling or pasteurization. The feedstock must come from recycled food-contact packaging.
On Sept. 25, Zhengzhou Zhongyuan Drying Technique and Engineering Co., based in China, received an LNO for mechanically recycling PET into packaging in contact with all food types, with allowed temperatures between frozen and higher than 150 degrees Fahrenheit during hot filling or pasteurization.
On Sept. 9, Lotte Chemical, headquartered in South Korea, received an LNO for mechanically recycling PP into packaging of up to 90% recycled content, in contact with all food types. Allowed temperatures range from frozen up to 150 degrees Fahrenheit during hot filling or pasteurization. The feedstock must come from recycled food-contact packaging.
On Sept. 6, Alliance Fibres, based in India, received an LNO for mechanically recycling PET into thermoform packaging in contact with raw fruits, vegetables, shell eggs and other solid foods without free fats or oils, with allowed temperatures ranging from frozen to room temperature.
On Aug. 28, Flex P Films, located in Egypt, received an LNO for mechanically recycling PET into packaging in contact with all food types, with allowed temperatures ranging from frozen to over boiling. The packaging can also be used during cooking for up to 45 minutes at 257 degrees Fahrenheit.
On Aug. 27, Rungta Greentech, based in India, received an LNO for mechanically recycling PET into thermoform packaging in contact with raw fruits, vegetables, and shell eggs, with allowed temperatures between frozen and room temperature.
On Aug. 23, Axens, headquartered in France, received an LNO for chemically recycling PET into packaging in contact with all food types and all temperatures.
On Aug. 20, Starlinger, headquartered in Austria, received an LNO for mechanically recycling PP into flexible intermediate bulk containers in contact with raw fruits, vegetables, shell eggs and other solid foods without free fats or oils. Allowed temperatures are between frozen and room temperature.
On July 26, Alcamare International Recycling Group, based in Mexico, received an LNO for mechanically recycling HDPE into packaging in contact with all food types, with allowed temperatures between frozen and higher than boiling. The feedstock must come from recycled food-contact packaging.
Additionally, Alcamare on July 1 received an LNO for mechanically recycling PP into rigid packaging in contact with all food types, with allowed temperatures between frozen and higher than boiling. The packaging can also be used for microwave cooking containers that heat to higher than boiling temperature. The feedstock must come from recycled food-contact packaging.
On July 18, Shenzhen Beauty Star Co., headquartered in China, received an LNO for mechanically recycling HDPE into packaging in contact with raw fruits, vegetables, shell eggs and other solid foods without free fats or oils. Allowed temperatures are between frozen and room temperature. The feedstock must come from recycled food-contact packaging.
On July 16, ALBA RORR New Material, based in China, received an LNO for mechanically recycling PET into packaging in contact with all food types, with allowed temperatures between frozen and higher than 150 degrees Fahrenheit during hot filling or pasteurization.
On July 2, Phite Technology Co., based in China, received an LNO for mechanically recycling PET into packaging in contact with all food types, with allowed temperatures ranging from frozen to higher than 150 degrees Fahrenheit during hot filling or pasteurization.
Finally, on July 1, PETValue, a joint venture of Indorama and Coca-Cola headquartered in the Philippines, received an LNO for mechanically recycling PET into packaging in contact with nonacid, aqueous products that may contain salt, sugar or both, and alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages. Allowed temperatures are between frozen and up to 150 degrees Fahrenheit during hot filling or pasteurization.