Shell To Provide Charter Next Generation With Advanced-Recycled PEs

Shell Polymers will be providing leading film processor Charter Next Generation (CNG) with certified circular polyethylene under terms of a commercial agreement the two companies reached in September.

The resin maker will be supplying CNG with circular PE under the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) Plus system using a mass-balance approach, Shell Polymers explained in a press release. The certification is assigned to material based on Shell Polymers’ use of pyrolysis oil made from recycled plastic.

As part of the ISCC Plus certification, credits are tracked and attributed using third-party standards, enabling processors to produce packaging that supports the shift toward a circular economy while using virgin-grade resins that meet performance and regulatory criteria. This announcement represents Shell Polymers’ first public customer collaboration leveraging certified circular PE.

“This collaboration with Charter Next Generation demonstrates how Shell Polymers is making circularity in plastics possible,” says Ryan Siegfried, Shell’s global marketing manager. “Our ISCC Plus-certified materials provide customers with traceable, flexible solutions that align with the needs of converters and brand owners who are committed to reducing plastic waste and supporting a more circular economy.”

CNG is producing custom film solutions using these certified materials across its ISCC Plus-certified manufacturing sites. These high-performance films are tailored for demanding applications where functional integrity is a must. Applications include packaging for pet food, packaged meats and healthcare products.

“Advanced recycling represents one pathway toward achieving circularity in flexible packaging, especially for high-performance applications where functionality cannot be compromised,” notes John Garnett, CNG’s senior vice president of sustainability, technical and innovation.

Shell Polymers’ Monaca facility in Pennsylvania, located near the heart of the North American polyethylene market, supports customer demand for traceable, scalable sustainability solutions, according to the company.

Meantime, CNG has expanded its GreenArrow sustainable films portfolio with a matte-finish machine-direction oriented polyethylene (MDO-PE) print film. The new film is designed to meet How2Recycle guidelines for store drop-off recycling and validated with a prequalification letter.

Manufactured using CNG’s next-generation MDO platform, the film integrates a premium matte aesthetic directly into the material, reportedly eliminating the need for secondary coatings or overprint varnishes. CNG says this results in a cost-effective solution that simplifies operations, ensures consistent machinability, and enables faster turnaround for converters and consumer packaged goods (CPG) brands.

CNG currently operates multiple MDO-PE lines across its Milton, Wisconsin, and Lexington, Ohio, sites, which the company says gives it the broadest capability set in North America to meet growing demand for GreenArrow recycle-ready solutions.

“Our customers have been asking for a simplified film solution that delivers a premium matte finish and aligns with their sustainability goals. With our new matte MDO-PE print film, we’re excited to deliver just that — a turnkey solution that allows our customers to create packaging designed for recycling with shelf appeal and an enhanced tactile experience,” notes James Rosenberger, CNG’s product manager of sustainable solutions.