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SUEZ and LyondellBasell extend their collaboration with Samsonite to produce a new range of suitcases using recycled plastics
On the occasion of Earth Day, SUEZ, LyondellBasell and Samsonite reaffirm their commitment to reducing their clients’ environmental footprint by developing even more sustainable products. Quality Circular Polymers (QCP), the plastics recycling joint venture of SUEZ and LyondellBasell, has renewed its collaboration with Samsonite for its Magnum Eco suitcase collection. This new range leverages QCP’s expertise in high-quality polymers 1 recycling and focuses on giving post-consumer plastics a second life while reducing the use of virgin materials.
Building on the success of the S’Cure ECO collection launched in 2019, and in order to preserve natural resources, Samsonite, well known for the quality and durability of its products, has launched its new Magnum Eco suitcase range made from secondary plastics materials. The luggage industry leader turned once again to QCP to benefit from its expertise in plastics recycling and recovery to take part in the conception of this new collection. Designed in Europe, the suitcases are made from household plastic waste from the Netherlands and Belgium, such as plastic bottles and yogurt pots: the large size suitcase incorporates recycled plastic waste equivalent to 483 yoghurt cups and 14 plastic bottles.
Using the innovative Recyclex™ technology, the exterior shells are made entirely from recycled plastics and the interior fabric is also developed from 100% recycled PET bottles. The new Magnum Eco collection illustrates QCP and Samsonite’s joint commitment to developing responsible products that incorporate recycled plastics resulting in a lower carbon footprint.
Christine Riley Miller, Samsonite’s Global Director of Sustainability sees this industry-first innovation as part of a bigger picture: “We are continuously looking for new ways to reduce our environmental footprint across our operations. This includes innovating how our products are made so we play our part in repurposing plastic waste.”
“LyondellBasell is taking definitive action to advance its circular economy ambitions, and the Samsonite Magnum Eco luggage is a perfect demonstration of bringing this valuable plastic resource back to life. This recycled material, polymers from our CirculenRecover product range, is providing travellers with a durable, lasting product. We are honoured to join Samsonite in being part of this sustainable solution to help end plastic waste in the environment, and endeavour to continuously innovate to meet our customer’s needs,” commented Richard Roudeix, LyondellBasell Senior Vice President of Olefins and Polyolefins for Europe, Middle East, Africa and India.
“We are delighted to continue our collaboration with Samsonite. R&D, a key driver of growth and differentiation for the SUEZ Group, combined with our expertise in recycling high-quality polymers, played an important role in the development of this new suitcase range. We are proud to offer concrete circular solutions and technologies to our customers. We are particularly vigilant in ensuring the traceability, compliance and sustainability of the plastics that we recycle, with LyondellBasell, within the QCP joint venture” added Jean-Marc Boursier, Senior Executive Vice President of SUEZ in charge of the France Region and Group Chief Operating Officer.
This new collaboration comes after QCP’s acquisition in December 2020 of TIVACO, a plastic recycling company located in Belgium. With a capacity of processing approximately 22,000 tonnes of recycled plastics per year, this acquisition brought QCP’s total plastic recycling capacity to approximately 55,000 tonnes per year.