German chemical giant BASF (Ludwigshafen; www.basf.com) has introduced its “IrgaCycle” range of additives, said to be tailored to the requirements of plastics recycling. Recyclers and processors can employ ready-to-use additive blends that are intended to improve the material properties and thus the durability of mechanically reclaimed polyolefins and mixed plastics. By mixing in the additives, the proportion of recycled material can be increased in various end-product areas such as packaging, automobiles and transport, and construction, the company said.

According to BASF, the production of plastics from mechanically recycled materials is expected to almost triple by 2030, due to improved technologies and stricter regulations. That corresponds to a growth of around 10% a year.

For the market launch, the IrgaCycle product line, part of the company’s sustainability-oriented “Valeras” portfolio (see Plasteurope.com of 16.07.2021) includes the following products:


• “PS 030 G” for the long-term thermal stability of recycled polyolefins and mixed polymers in dimensionally stable applications
• “PS 031 G” for processing and long-term thermal stability of recycled LDPE and LLDPE for foils and other flexible packaging
• “PS 032 G” for processing stability and long-term heat protection of recycled PP and polyolefin mixtures that contain impurities
• “UV 033 DD” for weather resistance with increased heat and processing stability of recycled HDPE and PP blends in outdoor products
• “XT 034 DD” for processing and long-term heat stability of polyolefin recyclates.