Prevented Ocean Plastic unveils world-first food-safe recycled polypropylene

Prevented Ocean Plastic, working with partners across the supply chain, has announced the development of the first recycled polypropylene (rPP) to meet European food-safe standards. The milestone addresses one of the most widely used yet least recycled plastics.

Polypropylene (PP) is common in cups, bottles, caps and films, but has a global post-consumer recycling rate of just 1%, making it a major contributor to plastic pollution. Until now, recycling has often been limited to downcycling into lower-value products rather than reprocessing into food-safe packaging.

The breakthrough has been achieved through collaboration between Innovia Films (a division of CCL Industries), Spectra Packaging, Bantam Materials UK Ltd, PETMAN, and Starlinger Viscotec technology, supported by Prevented Ocean Plastic collection in Indonesia and backed by Circulate Capital and Danone.

The new process allows PP waste to be collected, sorted, washed and converted into food-safe rPP, with each batch independently tested to industry standards. In its first year, the initiative is projected to prevent around 500 million PP cups from reaching the ocean — equivalent to circling the Earth more than once if laid end to end — with capacity for further growth.

Raffi Schieir, Founder of Prevented Ocean Plastic said: This world-first a monumental moment for ocean plastic prevention. This further proves that the Prevented Ocean Plastic franchise model can solve major plastic collection problems at scale and with dignity. My hope is that we can grow this model in every at-risk costal community, so all types of plastic are seen as valuable, and nothing discarded gets left behind. A huge thank you to every stakeholder for their effort and science-based testing over the years to help solve this problem.

The programme builds on Prevented Ocean Plastic’s franchise collection model, designed to be replicated in coastal communities most at risk of plastic pollution. Once processed, the rPP is supplied by Bantam Materials UK Ltd. Early adopters include Innovia, which will incorporate the material into BOPP flexible films, Spectra, which will use it in bottles and caps, and other packaging applications such as trays for fresh produce and proteins.

This development marks the first time PP has achieved food-safe recycled status in Europe, offering a scalable, circular solution for one of the most challenging packaging materials.