From plastic waste to valuable - goods going circular with ExxtendTM

ExxonMobil recently made its first shipment of certified circular plastic from Baytown, Texas, where in 2021 we processed almost 4 million pounds of plastic waste that would’ve otherwise likely ended up in a landfill. That’s the equivalent of recycling 360 million grocery bags.

Our shipment was delivered to Berry Global, a world-leader in innovative packaging and engineered products that is headquartered in Evansville, Indiana, a hub of American manufacturing. There, these certified circular plastics will become food grade containers.

All of this was made possible by ExxtendTM technology, which enables our high-performance plastics to go circular while meeting the stringent health and safety requirements of critical food contact and medical applications. With ExxtendTM, we can help create a more circular world.

This is why we have plans to build around 1 billion pounds of annual advanced recycling capacity by year-end 2026, a pivotal part of our commitment to help society reduce the wasteful littering, landfilling, and incineration of plastic waste.

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We need everyone’s help for advanced recycling technologies to reach their full potential. Working together, communities, government and businesses can expand access to recycling programs so that more plastic waste can be collected, sorted, and turned back into valuable resources. Together, we all must make the shift from the garbage bin to the “blue” bin so that more plastics can be recycled for further use.
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This thought inspired us to help launch action-oriented initiatives like the Houston Recycling Collaboration, an industry collaboration with the City of Houston aiming to transform America’s fourth largest municipality into a leading circularity hub.

We also support the need for sound government policy, including enhanced recycling standards that fully recognize and embrace the importance of new technologies like advanced recycling. In the U.S., our industry has outlined five specific actions policy-makers can take to support a more circular economy for plastics.

By working together – industry, governments, communities and consumers — we can build a better system, recycle more plastic and lower GHG emissions, all while enjoying the critical benefits that plastics provide in our everyday lives.

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Doubling down on advanced recycling in Baytown

Doubling down on advanced recycling in Baytown

Key takeaways:

  • Startup of a second unit is planned for 2025.
  • Certified-circular plastics help our customers meet their sustainability goals.
  • Growing global demand is 'far outpacing' current supply.
Advancing our solutions for plastic waste

Advancing our solutions for plastic waste

Key takeaways:

  • We support a treaty that makes real progress possible.
  • It’s important to preserve the many benefits of plastics.
  • Our advanced recycling plans are helping already.
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From start to finish, to start again: Creating a new life for plastic waste

Asia Pacific is getting more packaging choices as manufacturers collaborate to help address plastic waste.
Bringing advanced recycling to life

Bringing advanced recycling to life

  • Plastics play a valuable role in keeping food fresh, water clean, and medical devices sterile
  • Advanced recycling helps convert more types of plastics into new products
  • Demand for circular material is increasing beyond mechanical recycling's capacity

Advanced recycling for plastics

Advanced recycling can help extend the usefulness of plastics and address the challenge of plastic waste.