Amcor will use the technology to roll out sustainable flexible polyethylene packaging across its global portfolio of customers in the healthcare and food industries
The main entrance of Amcor Flexibles Tscheulin Rothal GmbH factory in Teningen, Germany. (Credit: Andreas Schwarzkopf/Wikipedia)
Packaging company Amcor has purchased certified circular polyethylene material using ExxonMobil’s Exxtend technology for advanced recycling.
Amcor will use the technology to roll out sustainable flexible polyethylene packaging across its global portfolio of customers in the healthcare and food industries.
The firm’s move aligns with its sustainability pledge to develop all of its packaging products to be recyclable or reusable by 2025.
The increased use of advanced recycling materials, like circular polymers, will increase the recycled material used in packaging.
Amcor used 113,000 tonnes of recycled material in its packaging in the fiscal year 2021.
ExxonMobil’s Exxtend technology allows plastic waste to be converted into new products with the same quality and performance as those made with virgin raw materials.
It induces peace of mind in customers along with benefits of increasing the use of recycled content in their packaging, said Amcor.
Amcor chief commercial officer Peter Konieczny said: “Using advanced recycled materials is yet another step forward in Amcor meeting the challenges of our industry and offering our customers more sustainable packaging solutions.
“By leveraging ExxonMobil’s Exxtend technology across our global product portfolio, Amcor is providing a true differentiator for our customers and the environment.”
ExxonMobil polyethylene vice president David Hergenrether said: “We are proud to see our relationship with Amcor expand with our Exxtend technology to help address their sustainability goals, as well as those of their customers.
“We look forward to working closely with Amcor to develop products that meet customer expectations for high-performance PE products, while helping to recycle plastic waste.”
ExxonMobil offers circular polymers, made from Exxtend technology, which are certified by International Sustainability and Carbon Certification Plus (ISCC PLUS).
ISCC PLUS certifications are effective standards for certifying the circularity of chemical products that result from advanced recycling operations via mass balance attribution.
In January this year, Amcor launched a new platform, dubbed AmFiber, for paper-based packaging products.