Scanfill has introduced Scanfoil rPP POP, a food-contact-approved polypropylene foil containing 30% post-consumer recycled material. The new sheet is intended to give food packaging manufacturers access to recycled-content PP with processing and performance characteristics comparable to virgin polypropylene.

The material forms part of Scanfill’s Scanfoil portfolio and uses recycled plastic sourced through Prevented Ocean Plastic supply chains. According to the company, the feedstock comes from discarded polypropylene cups collected in coastal areas of Southeast Asia where inadequate waste management could otherwise allow the material to enter rivers or oceans.

Scanfoil rPP POP combines recycled content, food-contact compliance and material traceability in a format designed for large-volume packaging production.

The foil is available in several transparency levels, allowing converters and brands to select an appearance suited to different food packaging applications. Scanfill describes the product as the first foil of its type to be offered at significant commercial volumes, an important consideration for companies that need consistent supplies across large packaging programmes.

Food-contact use has traditionally been one of the most challenging areas for post-consumer recycled plastics. Recycled feedstock must be carefully collected, sorted and processed to remove contaminants, while the finished material must comply with strict migration and safety requirements. Maintaining consistent colour, clarity and mechanical performance can add further complexity.

For Scanfoil rPP POP, the recycled plastic is subjected to an advanced recycling process by Scanfill’s material supplier before being converted into foil. Scanfill then performs additional testing when the raw material reaches its facilities, providing a further control stage intended to confirm that the material is suitable and safe for its intended application.

The company says the resulting foil offers properties equivalent to virgin PP. This could help packaging producers introduce recycled content without extensive changes to forming, cutting or conversion processes. For high-volume food packaging lines, compatibility with established machinery is essential, as material changes that affect production speed, sealing or dimensional stability can create additional costs.

Traceability is another central feature of the launch. Customers can obtain information about the geographical area from which the recycled plastic originated. This gives brands a more specific story around recovered material and can support sustainability reporting, supplier verification and communication with consumers.

• 30% PCR content reduces dependence on virgin polypropylene.
• Food-contact approval extends recycled plastic into demanding packaging applications.
• Multiple transparency options support different product presentation requirements.
• Traceable feedstock provides visibility into the material’s collection region.
• Full recyclability is intended to keep the polypropylene within established material cycles.

The foil has also been developed with the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation in mind. As recycled-content requirements become more demanding, food producers and packaging converters will need commercially available materials that combine compliance, safety and reliable supply. Solutions that can be adopted at scale will be particularly important as implementation deadlines approach.

The launch reflects growing activity across packaging segments to increase post-consumer recycled content. Recent developments include aluminium bottles made entirely from recycled material and flexible wet-wipe packaging containing 35% PCR. Together, these projects show how suppliers are adapting polymers, metals and barrier structures to meet circular economy targets.

For polypropylene packaging, the availability of certified recycled-content foil could open new opportunities in thermoformed trays, cups, lids and other rigid or semi-rigid food formats. The final suitability will depend on the individual application, required barrier properties and local recycling infrastructure, but the material represents a step towards wider use of PCR in sensitive packaging markets.

Scanfill’s new foil demonstrates how environmental benefits can be combined with industrial requirements. By offering food-contact approval, traceable recycled feedstock and performance comparable to virgin PP, the company is seeking to make recycled-content packaging easier to specify and produce at commercial scale.

Image suggestion: transparent and semi-transparent polypropylene food packaging foil rolls beside thermoformed trays and recovered plastic cups, with coastal collection and recycling imagery in the background.