Amcor inks deal with ExxonMobil to receive advanced recycling materials for packaging

Australian packaging solution producer Amcor, with U.S. headquarters in Deerfield, Illinois, has announced a five-year deal with Irving, Texas-based ExxonMobil to purchase certified-circular polyethylene (PE) in support of its target to achieve 30-percent-recycled material across its portfolio by 2030. Amcor says the volume of material will increase incrementally each year and is expected to reach 100,000 metric tons annually at the end of the contract period.

Amcor says, through ExxonMobil’s Exxtend technology for advanced recycling, it intends to leverage this material across its global portfolio, with a particular focus on the healthcare and food industries, which are required to meet stringent safety requirements for recycled plastic. The company says the agreement will expand on its initial purchase of certified-circular PE material from ExxonMobil earlier this year.

Amcor says the certified-circular PE material will be sourced from ExxonMobil’s facility in Baytown, Texas, which, upon startup later this year, will be one of North America’s largest advanced plastic material recycling facilities, with a capacity to recycle 30,000 metric tons of plastic waste per year.

Earlier this year, Amcor launched a product rebrand including its new EcoGuard brand, which the company says makes it easier for customers to choose from a number of more sustainable solutions, including products that reduce the carbon footprint of packaging, are designed to be recycled and use recycled content or biomaterials.

Amcor says it is already delivering a variety of solutions containing recycled content to customers around the world, including Mondelez International, which has made the switch to 30 percent food-grade recycled packaging for its Cadbury Dairy Milk, Caramilk and Old Gold family blocks in Australia. The company says it has pledged to make all products recyclable, reusable or compostable by 2025, with 74 percent of total production by weight already designed to be recycled.

“We are committed to a future of more sustainable packaging and are excited to strengthen our ability to meet increasing customer demand for recycled content,” Amcor CEO Ron Delia says.

Senior Vice President of Product Solutions at ExxonMobil Michael Zamora adds, “Our expanded commitment will make our Exxtend technology for advanced recycling available to even more of Amcor’s customers across the globe, and represents an important step towards reaching our shared goal of helping to increase the amount of plastic waste that’s recycled.”