Leading luggage manufacturer Samsonite (Luxembourg; www.samsonite.com) has partnered with LyondellBasell (Houston, Texas / USA; www.lyondellbasell.com) and French waste management company Suez (Paris; www.suez.com) to produce its first suitcase collection made from recycled plastics.

The “Green Grey” edition of "S’Cure Eco" – said to be the first suitcase composed of post-consumer plastics waste – has recycled PP packaging for the outer shell and recycled PET bottles for the interior fabric.

The secondary raw materials have been supplied by Quality Circular Polymers (QCP, Geleen / The Netherlands; www.qcpolymers.com), the 50:50 LyondellBasell/Suez joint venture plastics recycling plant in the Netherlands – see Plasteurope.com of 16.03.2018.

Samsonite selected the circular PP grade "Moplen Plus QCP189P", which is used for a variety of applications, including injection moulding. LyondellBasell said it developed this grade with high-impact resistance to address the demands required for high-quality luggage.

Richard Roudeix, LyondellBasell’s senior vice president of olefins and polyolefins for Europe, Asia and International, said, “Samsonite’s unique, innovative application is a perfect use for our recycled material because it ensures plastic does not end in the environment while providing travellers with a durable, lasting product. This is a win-win.” LyondellBasell will be displaying one of the suitcases at this year’s plastics trade fair "K 2019" (www.k-online.com) to be held in Düsseldorf / Germany on 16-23 October.