LyondellBasell, a global leader in recycled and bio-circular polymers, has collaborated with Henkel to develop an innovative renewable-based solution for the transparent plastic cage of Henkel’s WC Frisch/Bref solid toilet rim blocks. The cage is manufactured using an injection molding process and features a composition of 30% mechanically recycled plastics and 70% bio-circular based raw materials produced with the LYB CirculenRenew portfolio applying a mass balance approach. This collaboration underscores both companies’ commitment to advancing more sustainable packaging solutions.
After in-depth analysis, Henkel selected CirculenRenew as the base-material for the development of the transparent plastic cage of WC Frisch/Bref solid toilet rim blocks. These polymers are produced using a mass balance approach. The bio-based feedstock comes from wastes and residues, such as residues from vegetable oil processing. A drop-in solution, CirculenRenew delivers the same high-performance as fossil-based alternatives, with the key difference being lower CO2 emissions during production. Across the full life cycle, renewable-based materials result in a lower CO2 footprint compared to fossil-based options.
“We are very happy about collaborating with LYB on realizing this forward-looking project,” said Carsten Bertram, Head of packaging sustainability at Henkel Consumer Brands. “One part of our sustainability journey at Henkel is producing the packaging of our consumer products from more sustainable materials. We are doing so by developing smart packaging solutions designed for reuse and recycling, reducing fossil-based virgin materials and using more recycled plastic.”
CirculenRenew polypropylene (PP) grades offer up to 44% lower product carbon footprint (PCF) than fossil-based PP on a cradle-to-gate basis1. These polymers are produced using a mass balance approach with bio-circular feedstocks that do not compete with food production. This method ensures renewable content is allocated and certified, while maintaining strict quality standards for food applications and the performance of virgin materials.
CirculenRenew is manufactured at LYB polymer sites in Europe, which are ISCC PLUS certified, ensuring traceability along the value chain. Using the mass balance method, LYB tracks how much bio-circular material goes into the production process and attributes it to the final polymer via a Sustainability Declaration.
“At LYB, we make circular and low carbon solutions work for businesses,” said Paula Sanabria Luque, senior director, marketing and commercial development, Circular & Low Carbon Solutions, EMEAI, at LyondellBasell. “We are proud to support Henkel with our bio-circular solution, CirculenRenew, helping them meet their emissions reduction targets along the value chain. This builds on our long-standing collaboration in circularity, which has included several projects in mechanical recycling. Together with partners like Henkel, we are accelerating the availability of high-performance polymers – mechanically and chemically recycled, as well as renewable-based – at scale through our comprehensive Circulen portfolio.”
“At Henkel, where no technical solution for mechanically recycled plastic exists yet due to product safety, quality or availability issues, we explore alternative approaches,” Bertram added. “We believe that every opportunity must be considered to achieve our goal of making packaging more sustainable.”
