SABIC, iyris, and Napco develop durable TRUCIRCLE polyethylene greenhouse roofing for Saudi food production

SABIC, a global leader in the chemical industry, has joined forces with iyris (formerly RedSea), a sustainable AgriClimate Tech business and Napco National, a vertically integrated Saudi manufacturer of flexible film and packaging products, to create a high-tech durable greenhouse roofing solution using certified circular polyethylene from SABIC’s TRUCIRCLE portfolio. The greenhouse roof has been used in the National Food Production Initiative (NFPI), together with other leading champions from the public and private sector in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, designed to improve the sustainability of Saudi Arabia’s agriculture and food security in the region.

In this collaboration, SABIC linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) resin is used in the roofing of large agricultural greenhouses. The polymer material is manufactured with certified circular feedstock from mixed post-consumer used plastics and forms part of the company’s TRUCIRCLE portfolio and services for circular solutions.

The mixed-used plastic is converted into pyrolysis oil in an advanced recycling process, which is then used in the production of new polymer resins, such as LLDPE formulations, with the same purity and quality as traditional virgin plastics at SABIC’s plant in Jubail, KSA. Napco National uses the certified circular LLDPE to manufacture a durable greenhouse roofing film.

Khaled Al-Jalawi, global circular economy director at SABIC, says, “We are proud to have collaborated on this innovative project using our TRUCIRCLE material solutions. The agricultural greenhouses, made with certified circular polyethylene from SABIC, utilize advanced recycled plastic, providing significant sustainability benefits. This initiative highlights how SABIC is collaborating with local entities to drive plastic circularity, demonstrating the power of collective efforts to benefit the agriculture industry in the Kingdom and potentially beyond.”

Outstanding property profile

The film made by Napco National using SABIC’s certified circular PE has a thickness of 200 µm. It features good tensile strength and elongation and has successfully passed relevant Elmendorf tear as well as dart impact testing. The SABIC polymer also delivers high clarity and UV stability. The incorporated, award-winning SecondSky technology of iyris adds excellent thermal behavior by blocking near-infrared heat without compromising the transmission of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR).

Chadi Radi, senior director for Business Development at Napco National, comments, “We are proud to have sponsored the production of the SecondSky greenhouse film for the Al-Bada prototype farm, utilizing SABIC TRUCIRCLE material which performs very well on our existing PE Film extrusion lines. This collaboration stands as a testament to Napco National’s commitment to sustainable development and innovation. Together, we are shaping a success story that paves the way for a greener future and a more sustainable agricultural industry in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.”

As part of this story, SABIC is also the first material supplier in the region to provide certified circular polymers from local production with ISCC PLUS certified feedstock from advanced recycling. As customers are increasingly becoming more conscientious of their environmental footprint, this TRUCIRCLE offering based on local capacities meets with a growing demand for more sustainable and responsible materials.

Extensive value chain collaboration

Further KSA-based collaborators in the extensive value chain of the NFPI include Red Sea Global, a developer of regenerative tourism destinations; Tamala, a local farmers’ cooperative; King Abdullah University of Science & Technology (KAUST) for analytical studies; Terraxy, a soil regeneration specialist; and the University of Tabuk for analytical reporting on the outcome of the project.

As a first result of the NFPI, a 0.75- hectare greenhouse model facility was built on previously fallow, regenerated land at Al-Bada, KSA. The large facility, including a majlis (meeting center), is fully operational, and the first crop harvests have already been delivered to Red Sea Global resorts.

Scalable model for KSA and beyond

Altogether, the Al-Bada facility is seen by the partners as a solution that could radically transform the lives of Saudi farmers, empowering them to regenerate land in areas where the impact of climate change has made cultivation increasingly challenging. It saves water, energy and fertigation costs while improving crop yield and quality.

John Keppler, executive chairperson of iyris, summarizes the successful NFP initiative, “Saudi Arabia still relies much on imported fresh produce. With this project, we have embarked on a mission to transform the Kingdom’s potential to sustainably improve its food security and secure the future of local food production. The integration of our SecondSky technologies with SABIC’s TRUCIRCLE materials shows how the continued efforts of Saudi companies can transform the agriculture industry and benefit farmers.

As an excellent case study for our farming community, Al-Bada is a fully scalable and replicable model for growing local produce in the Kingdom and potentially beyond.”