Sealed Air, ExxonMobil, Ahold Delhaize USA collaborate on plastics recycling initiative

Sealed Air, a packaging solutions company based in Charlotte, North Carolina; ExxonMobil, Irving, Texas; and Ahold Delhaize USA, Salisbury, North Carolina, have announced a collaboration on an advanced recycling initiative. The project recycles flexible plastics from the food supply chain and remakes them into new, certified circular food-grade packaging.   

According to a joint news release, the initiative is expected to begin this summer and scale over time.  

“We are delighted to work with Sealed Air and Ahold Delhaize USA on this important project,” says David Hergenrether, vice president of polyethylene for ExxonMobil. “This relationship is an example of the value chain collaborations needed to enable a more circular economy. We are excited that certified circular plastics from our Exxtend technology for advanced recycling will play an important role.”  

The companies say a critical challenge facing the food industry is driving a circular economy for plastics using packaging materials that have strict hygiene and performance requirements for food protection and distribution. Recovering these essential packaging materials requires innovative recycling solutions beyond traditional mechanical recycling.  

The collaboration between Sealed Air, ExxonMobil and Ahold Delhaize USA will help increase the use of recycled content by validating the technical and economic viability of a certified circular system based on advanced recycling technology and mass balance attribution. Flexible plastics will be designed to be collected, recycled and repurposed into new food packaging. The project will help keep used flexible plastics out of landfills, increase the number of times essential plastics can be recycled and ensure the safety and quality of packaged foods.  

“Sealed Air is leading the packaging industry by showing how high-performance packaging materials can be designed to be remade. Advanced recycling is key to these valuable materials being collected and remanufactured,” says Ted Doheny, president and CEO of Sealed Air. “Our collaboration with ExxonMobil is opening new recycling possibilities and by partnering with leading retail group Ahold Delhaize USA, we are paving the way for our industry to protect perishable foods while creating a low-carbon, circular economy.”