Borealis and Borouge have introduced Recleo, a new global brand for mechanically recycled polyolefins designed for a broad range of polyolefin applications. The brand consolidates post-industrial (PIR) and post-consumer (PCR) recyclates and compounds into one portfolio, with the aim of simplifying sourcing for customers in mobility, building and construction, appliances, infrastructure and consumer goods. By combining multiple recyclate streams under a single product family, the companies intend to provide a more accessible route to integrating mechanically recycled content into existing applications while maintaining cost efficiency.
The Recleo portfolio is positioned as a complement to the existing Borcycle M range of premium mechanically recycled polyolefins. While Borcycle M is based exclusively on post-consumer waste and is targeted at demanding applications, Recleo focuses on fit-for-purpose grades that combine PIR and PCR sources. Together, these two brands are intended to cover a wide spectrum of performance and cost requirements, allowing customers to select solutions that align with specific circularity and quality targets.
Scope and positioning of the Recleo portfolio
According to Borealis and Borouge, grades marketed under the Recleo brand are produced from verified post-industrial and post-consumer plastic waste streams. By incorporating these recyclates into new compounds, the portfolio is intended to support customers in reducing their carbon footprints and in keeping raw materials within the production cycle for longer. The companies highlight Recleo as a means to help industries such as automotive, building and construction, household appliances and consumer goods increase recycled content without departing from established processing technologies.
The Recleo brand is described as cost-effective, with an emphasis on making mechanically recycled solutions available across a wider range of applications than the premium segment traditionally served by high-specification recycled grades. By integrating PIR and PCR sources, the portfolio can be tailored to different performance and price points, allowing for a differentiated approach depending on technical requirements and regulatory frameworks in each application area.
Recleo sits alongside Borcycle M in the broader circular solutions offering of Borealis and Borouge. Borcycle M will continue to be used for premium mechanically recycled polyolefins based solely on post-consumer waste, aimed at the most demanding applications. In contrast, Recleo concentrates on fit-for-purpose grades where a combination of PIR and PCR content can meet application needs while retaining a focus on affordability. The two-brand structure is intended to make the companies' circular portfolio clearer and easier to navigate for customers evaluating different options for recycled content.
Regulatory alignment and certifications
The launch of Recleo is linked by the companies to evolving regulatory requirements in key markets, particularly in Europe. The new portfolio is designed to support compliance with upcoming provisions in the EU End-of-Life Vehicle Regulation and the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation, both of which are expected to drive higher recycled content and improved circularity metrics in end products.
Many grades within the Recleo range are reported to be RecyClass certified, providing standardized information on recycled content and compatibility with existing recycling streams. Production of these grades is carried out in accordance with the IATF 16949 quality management standard, which is widely used in the automotive industry and related sectors. This combination of certifications and quality standards is intended to support consistent material performance and documentation across different regions and supply chains.
By aligning the portfolio with these regulatory and certification frameworks, Borealis and Borouge position Recleo as a tool for customers seeking to meet internal sustainability targets as well as external compliance obligations. The verified nature of the PIR and PCR streams used in Recleo grades is presented as a further element of traceability and reliability in the context of increasing scrutiny on recycled materials.
Global availability and application areas
Recleo is available worldwide, with Borealis and Borouge emphasizing security of supply and consistent quality across major markets. The portfolio is supported by the companies' existing global network and their polymer processing expertise developed over several decades. This international reach is intended to enable customers operating in multiple regions to harmonize material specifications and circularity strategies.
In practical terms, Recleo is positioned as a suitable match with the full Borealis and Borouge virgin polyolefin portfolio. The combination of virgin and recycled grades is aimed at increasing overall recycled content while maintaining established performance profiles in end-use applications. The companies highlight synergies across processing technologies, in particular for film and other extrusion processes, but the portfolio is also targeted at a broader set of conversion methods used in mobility components, building products, appliances and consumer goods.
Recleo supports the reuse of end-of-life plastics through certified mechanical recycling routes. By keeping materials in circulation and reducing the reliance on virgin feedstocks, the brand is intended to contribute to circularity objectives across the value chain. Customers can integrate Recleo grades into existing production systems while using the associated documentation and certifications to substantiate recycled content and circularity claims.
Photo: Recleo unites a range of cost-effective, mechanically recycled post-industrial and post-consumer solutions in one global portfolio
Customer access and circularity objectives
The introduction of Recleo is framed by Borealis and Borouge as a response to increasing demand for recycled content in polyolefin applications, driven both by regulation and by brand-owner sustainability commitments. By consolidating mechanically recycled grades under a single, globally available brand, the companies aim to make it easier for customers to identify and specify materials that support circular economy goals.
In this context, Recleo is described as expanding access to certified recycled materials at scale. The single-brand approach is intended to streamline portfolio structure, reduce complexity in material selection and facilitate integration of circular materials into existing production setups. The companies see Recleo as a one-stop offering of cost-effective recycled solutions that can be paired with virgin grades where necessary, enabling customers to work towards circularity targets without compromising on reliability or established processing practices.
With this launch, Borealis and Borouge underline their shared objective of contributing to a circular plastics economy by increasing the availability and usability of mechanically recycled polyolefins. Recleo, in combination with Borcycle M and the companies' virgin portfolios, is positioned as a key element in their strategy to support sustainable material use in multiple industries and applications.
