ExxonMobil is demonstrating sustainable solutions that include certified-circular polymers made with its Exxtend technology for the advanced recycling of plastic waste at K2022 in Düsseldorf.
One of the largest publicly traded international oil and gas companies, ExxonMobil is present at the booths of industry-leading machine manufacturers (OEM) at K2022.
The company says its Exxtend technology for advanced recycling of plastic waste, which is used to make certified-circular polymers, can play an increasingly important role in creating a more circular economy for plastics. “This technology can broaden the range of plastics that society recycles,” said global Marketing Manager Matt Loach. “With plans to scale our technology at multiple sites around the world, we can help meet customers’ growing demand for more certified-circular content.”
Certified-circular polymers produced using Exxtend technology deliver the same quality and performance as resins made from conventional feedstock, so customers can be confident when using them in existing applications, including food-grade packaging and medical products.
OEM collaborations at K2022 that demonstrate how certified circular polymers made using Exxtend technology can help the value chain develop circular solutions include:
A five-layer, 45 micron fully recyclable freezer film pouch.
It is suitable for high-performance food-grade packaging that incorporates certified-circular Exceed S performance polyethylene (PE) made using Exxtend technology for advanced recycling of plastic waste. Working collaboratively with Reifenhäuser (extrusion technology),Twintag (universal unique identifiers), Comexi (flexible packaging printing and converting), and R-Cycle (plastics recycling technology), the pouch includes documentation and digital traceability along the value chain.
With one scan, the digital traceability tracks certification for compliance, helps eliminate manual data entry, helps identify packaging for recycling in communities with programs and facilities in place that collect and recycle plastic packaging, and is aligned with open tracing standards.
The product information can be exchanged from source to finished product and beyond, supporting the path of a circular economy. Exceed S delivers industry-leading combinations of stiffness and toughness while being easy to process.
More information is available at the Reifenhäuser Booth (#Hall 17/C22); R-Cycle Booth Circular Economy Forum Booth (#Hall 16/CE 07); Comexi Booth (#H4 B31); and, the Reifenhäuser Open House on 20, 21 and 24 October.
Using certified circular polymers for medical products, and then back again.
Krauss Maffei injection molds ExxonMobil PP, which could be certified-circular polymers to make insulin pen caps. Once the pens have been used, Krauss Maffei sorts and mechanically recycles the disposable caps and converts this valuable waste into a new PP compound.
As medical applications require high-purity material, mechanically recycled PP is used for non-sensitive, durable applications like automotive front-end carriers. When those components reach their end of life, hypothetically the automotive part could be used as feedstock for advanced recycling using Exxtend technology to produce certified-circular polymers with the same performance as resins made from the conventional feedstock. More information is available at Hall 15/C24 – D24
Developed with Reifenhäuser Reicofil, a solution for nonwoven fabrics that deliver lofty thickness, ultra-cushiony cotton-like softness, and a silk-like smooth touch.
The solution, which includes certified-circular ExxonMobil PP based on Exxtend technology for advanced recycling of plastic waste, provides a tailored balance of properties for nonwovens used in premium diapers, pant-type diapers, feminine care, and adult incontinence products. Available at the Reicofil Open House on October 21st.
“To help meet the growing demand for certified-circular polymers, ExxonMobil is leveraging existing manufacturing assets to rapidly scale its Exxtend technology to process a wide range of plastic waste,” said vice-president for Polyethylene David Hergenrether. “Plans are well underway for up to 500,000 metric tons per year of advanced recycling capacity to be added by year-end 2026 across multiple sites globally.”
For full details and directions to these OEM collaborations, visitors should visit ExxonMobil’s Information Hub (North Entrance #11).
