LyondellBasell and Henkel have collaborated to develop a bio-circular polymer solution for the transparent plastic cage used in WC Frisch/Bref toilet rim block products, focusing on reducing reliance on fossil-based materials.
The packaging component is produced through injection molding and incorporates a material composition of 30% mechanically recycled plastics and 70% bio-circular feedstock. The renewable-based content is sourced from waste and residue streams, including by-products from vegetable oil processing, and is processed using a mass balance approach under the CirculenRenew portfolio.
The material is designed as a drop-in alternative to conventional polypropylene, maintaining comparable performance while supporting lower carbon emissions during production. According to the companies, CirculenRenew polypropylene grades can offer up to 44% lower product carbon footprint on a cradle-to-gate basis compared to fossil-based polypropylene.
“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.”
The bio-circular polymers are manufactured at LyondellBasell’s European sites, which are ISCC PLUS certified, enabling traceability of renewable feedstock through the value chain using a mass balance system. The method allows allocation of bio-circular content to the final polymer while maintaining performance and regulatory standards.
“At LYB, we make circular and low carbon solutions work for businesses,” said Paula Sanabria Luque, senior director at LyondellBasell. “We are proud to support Henkel with our bio-circular solution.”
Henkel stated that alternative material approaches are being evaluated where mechanically recycled plastics are not feasible due to safety, quality, or availability constraints.