ExxonMobil, Selene launch heavy-duty sacks with 50% recycled PE

BELGIUM – ExxonMobil Signature Polymers and The Selene Group have teamed up to introduce heavy-duty sacks (HDS) incorporating 50% recycled polyethylene (PE), marking a significant step toward circular packaging solutions in industrial logistics.

The Selene NextBag will be used at ExxonMobil’s Meerhout Polymer Plant in Belgium for the delivery of PE resins to customers.

The recycled PE content originates from end-of-life polymer bags collected during logistics operations, which The Selene Group processes into its Premium Recycle Polymer.

This recycled material is combined with ExxonMobil’s Exceed Tough and Exxtra Seal metallocene PE resins, creating a high-performance sack that maintains original thickness and mechanical properties.

“Packaging strength properties were preserved thanks to advanced performance polymers, which compensate for physical property degradation due to recycled content,” said ExxonMobil.

Exceed Tough+ m 1019 provides enhanced puncture and tear resistance, while Exxtra Seal m 1012 improves drop resistance and sealing performance, ensuring the HDS meets rigorous industrial requirements.

The partnership underscores a growing industry trend: integrating recycled content without compromising quality.

By leveraging ExxonMobil’s metallocene PE (mPE) portfolio, the NextBag delivers durability for heavy-duty applications while supporting corporate sustainability goals.

In parallel, ExxonMobil is advancing high-performance multilayer film solutions. Recently, it collaborated with Alliance Films and Cloeren to develop a 67-layer Nano Layer pre-stretch film engineered for stretchability, puncture resistance, tear propagation, and holding force.

The structure combines Exceed mPE grades, including Exceed m 3518, Exceed Tough m 3812, and Exceed Flow m 1716, with Vistamaxx performance polymers to optimize mechanical integrity and material efficiency.

Most layers in the configuration use neat polymers rather than blends, maximizing molecular architecture for consistent performance.

This dual focus on recycled content in heavy-duty sacks and advanced multilayer films illustrates ExxonMobil’s strategy to address both sustainability and functionality challenges in industrial packaging.

By providing solutions that maintain performance while incorporating circular materials, the company strengthens its position in the growing market for environmentally responsible, high-performance packaging.

Industry observers note that such innovations reflect wider shifts in the PE sector, as manufacturers and converters seek to reduce plastic waste, meet regulatory requirements, and provide products capable of supporting increasingly automated logistics and demanding industrial applications.

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