FDA Accelerates Approvals for Recycled Plastics in Food Packaging

In a decisive shift for packaging sustainability, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has dramatically increased its acceptance of post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastics for direct food-contact applications.

From early 2024 through mid-2025, a record number of Letters of No Objection (LNOs) were issued for a variety of polymers, signaling the growing regulatory confidence in mechanical and advanced recycling processes.

This approvals surge enables packaging manufacturers and brand owners to integrate more recycled content into food-grade packaging while meeting strict federal safety standards. It’s a critical development when environmental pressures, consumer demand, and legislative mandates push for circularity and reducing virgin plastic use.

You can also read: PFAS in Food Contact: Applications and Regulatory Actions.

Expanding the Scope: From PET to PP and PE

The FDA’s LNO program has historically focused on PET, the most commonly recycled plastic. But that focus has expanded significantly. In 2024 alone, the FDA approved food-contact PCR materials, including HDPE, LDPE, LLDPE, PP, and PET. These clearances span various forms—rigid containers, films, and flexible packaging—and cover a range of food types and conditions, from dry goods to high-fat, hot-filled applications.

Some standout LNOs in 2024 include:

• Circulus Holdings (Jan 2024): Cleared for 100% PCR LDPE in rigid packaging under Conditions B–H.

• NOVA Chemicals (May 2024): Approved for LDPE and LLDPE from film waste, across all food types under B–H.

• Shanghai Re-mall, Blue Polymers, and JB Ecotex: Approved for HDPE and PP in contact with produce, dairy, and fatty foods.

• A wave of PET recyclers, including Dalian Hiscien and Merlin Plastics, also received new LNOs for thermoforms and other packaging formats.

These approvals mark a shift from limited-use scenarios toward comprehensive food-contact applications. You can read the complete LNOs here.

FDA Approvals in 2025: The Momentum Builds

The first half of 2025 has only accelerated this trend. In a span of just two months (April–May), FDA granted LNOs to:

• PureCycle Technologies for polypropylene (PP), cleared under Conditions A–H, covering all food types and uses.

• Gneuss Kunststofftechnik for HDPE from milk bottles, cleared for moist and fatty foods (C–G).

• Compuestos Tknset (Mexico) and Genox LyondellBasell for PP and HDPE, targeting fresh produce and dairy under E–G.

• NOVA Chemicals again, for their Indiana-based Syndigo1 facility, projected to produce over 100 million pounds annually of FDA-compliant LLDPE PCR.

Together, these represent not just technological advancement but growing regulatory trust in both mechanical and advanced recycling processes to deliver safe, high-quality food-grade materials.

Technical and Commercial Significance

The approvals cover broader Conditions of Use, which define temperature and time exposure for food contact. Many recent LNOs now extend through Condition A (boiling water fill and storage)—once reserved for virgin materials. This opens the door to applications such as hot-fill pouches, frozen food bags, and refrigerated dairy packaging.

FDA’s acceptance validates processes that ensure contaminants are effectively removed and that the recycled material meets stringent purity standards. This credibility is crucial as converters and brands seek to shift toward circular packaging without compromising safety or performance.

Regulatory Momentum Meets Market Demand

These regulatory wins align with policy and market forces. The U.S. Plastics Pact, of which many of these companies are members, has a 2025 goal for 100% of plastic packaging to be reusable, recyclable, or compostable. State-level laws in California and Washington are also mandating minimum PCR content in packaging.

Meanwhile, consumer expectations are rising. According to a NOVA Chemicals survey, 75% of U.S. consumers now expect food brands to increase recycled content in packaging.

The Path Forward

The FDA’s expanding list of approved PCR resins for food contact is reshaping what’s possible in sustainable packaging. As more converters incorporate food-grade recycled content and resin producers scale up ISCC PLUS–certified operations, the industry moves closer to circularity.

This new regulatory landscape offers a clear message: the infrastructure, technology, and approval pathways for food-safe PCR are in place. The next step is broader adoption—and the momentum is clearly building.