Last month, almost 30 global companies announced the formation of an alliance to address the impact that plastic waste is having on our environment, with particular focus on our oceans. The Alliance to End Plastic Waste (AEPW; www.endplasticwaste.org) has committed over $1 billion, and aims to invest $1.5 billion over the next five years toward the ambitious goal of eliminating plastic waste.
The founding members of the AEPW, which include representatives from industries across the value chain of plastics manufacture and use, are: BASF, Berry Global, Braskem, Chevron Phillips Chemical Company, Clariant, Covestro, Dow, DSM, ExxonMobil, Formosa Plastics Corp. USA, Henkel, LyondellBasell, Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings, Mitsui Chemicals, NOVA Chemicals, OxyChem, PolyOne, Procter & Gamble, Reliance Industries, the Saudi Basic Industries Corp. (SABIC), Sasol, SUEZ, Shell, SCG Chemicals, Sumitomo Chemical, Total, Veolia and Versalis (Eni).
Industry steps up to the challenge
While plastics afford many advantages that have contributed to their ever-increasing use, most plastic waste is not being recycled and plastic debris is a global environmental concern (for more, see Embracing a circular economy; CE June 2018, p. 5). Waste plastic, however, has value with the potential to be tapped, and companies are working to do this.
BASF, for example, has undertaken a project called ChemCycling, where using thermochemical processes, plastic waste that is not currently being recycled, can be broken down to oil or gaseous products that can then be used as raw materials. In December, the company announced that it has, for the first time, manufactured products based on chemically recycled plastic waste.
Also in December, SABIC signed a memorandum of understanding with Plastic Energy, Ltd. The two companies plan to build the first commercial plant in Europe to refine and upgrade a feedstock that will be made from recycled, low-quality, mixed-plastic waste. The target date for commercial production is 2021.
In October, Veolia and Unilever announced a collaboration agreement to work on emerging technologies to help reduce plastic waste. Unilever committed to use at least 25% of recycled plastic in its packaging by 2025.
These efforts, and more by both industry and academia, are all working toward creating a plastics circular economy. The AEPW looks to enhance individual efforts through cooperation in the alliance.
The Alliance to End Plastic Waste
The Alliance is a non-profit organization and has identfied four key areas for its work: Infrastructure development; Innovation; Education and engagement; and Clean-up.
The founding companies of the AEPW have strong resources and capabilities that are much-needed to address the plastics-waste problem. The announcement of the alliance brings a welcome focus of these resources in a cooperative effort for real change to this global challenge.
For more on the advances being made in recyclng plastic waste, look for our Newsfront on this topic in next month’s issue of Chemical Engineering. ■
Dorothy Lozowski, Editorial Director
Featured Conference
November 9-11, 2026Irving Convention Center | Dallas, TX
Explore this topic and more — live at Clean Americas. Join environmental, health, safety, and emergency response professionals tackling the industry's most urgent hazards. View Conference Program →
When a major incident strikes, the people stepping into Incident Command aren't always the ones who trained for it. Engineers, operators, trades supervisors, and compliance specialists may suddenly find themselves filling Command and General Staff roles — not because they volunteered, but because the situation demands it. Panelists will share practical strategies for leading without positional authority, tools and frameworks that help personnel rapidly orient to ICS roles, and approaches for closing the gap between day-to-day job functions and emergency command readiness before the next incident makes it urgent.
Speaking
Scott Andrews (Trans Mountain Canada Inc., Manager Emergency Management)
Kelly Codlin , MSPH, CIH (Marathon Petroleum Company, Emergency Preparedness Director)
Nick Hickson (Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (TEEX), Hazmat Training Manager)
Josh Dubach MSc, CEM (Onterris, Senior Response Management Consultant)
This session will examine produced water as the largest waste stream in the oil and gas industry and one of its most pressing emerging challenges. It will address the growing volumes of produced water, the increasing regulatory and public scrutiny of constituents such as PFAS, salts, and Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material (NORM), and the operational implications for management, treatment, reuse, and disposal. The discussion will also explore how operators, regulators, and communities are redefining approaches to produced water management in response to environmental, technical, and stakeholder pressures.
Speaking
Steve Pepper, Ph.D., (Onterris, Director of Response Management)
Charles Maguire (Railroad Commission of Texas, Advisor, Oil and Gas Division)
Prof. Shane Walker Ph.D. (Texas Produced Water Consortium, Director)
Ray Cheatham (Onterris, Energy Sector Leader)
This session will present a detailed case study of a large-scale lithium-ion battery fire response that extended over 12 months. Attendees will explore the hazards associated with thermal runaway events, the operational challenges of suppressing lithium battery fires, and the response strategies that proved effective in this prolonged incident. The
Drawing on insights from U.S. EPA Region 9 wildfire response efforts, the session will also highlight tactics such as hazard characterization, air monitoring and evaluation, and household hazardous waste collection and disposal. Participants will leave with a stronger understanding of the complexities involved in large-scale battery fire incidents and the critical factors to consider when planning and executing an effective response.
Speaking
Robert W. May PG (Clean Harbors, Senior Vice President, Branch Services and Sales)
Crosley Welch (Missouri Department of Natural Resources, State On-Scene Coordinator)
Samuel Cheek , CSP, RRPT (U.S. EPA, Region 6, Federal On-Scene Coordinator)
Christopher Myers (U.S. EPA, Region 9, Federal On-Scene Coordinator)
This session introduces use of remote sensing technologies to detect, characterize and monitor spills across marine and coastal environments. Discussion will highlight how tools can integrate into modern spill response workflows to improve safety and support data-driven decision making.
Speaking
James Hanzalik (Clean Gulf Associates, Vice-President)
Gordon Staples (MDA Space Ltd., Senior Radar Applications Scientist)
Grant Coolbaugh (Applied Research Associates / Ohmsett, Mechanical Engineer)
Speaking
Allyson Purcell MEP, CEM (ConocoPhillips, CMER Director)
Michael Delio (Maxum Petroleum, EHS & SECURITY MGR)
This session provides a practical, ground‑level introduction to the essential steps required after a battery undergoes a thermal event. We’ll break down how to assess site conditions, stabilize and prepare damaged cells or packs, select appropriate containment and packaging methods, and navigate the regulatory landscape that governs transport and disposal. The lecture emphasizes real‑world decision‑making, safety considerations, and compliance requirements, giving participants a clear framework they can apply immediately in field operations or emergency response planning.
Speaking
Mark Steadman (The Battery Network, Program Manager)
Environment, Health, Safety & Security
Ending plastic waste
| By Dorothy Lozowski
Last month, almost 30 global companies announced the formation of an alliance to address the impact that plastic waste is having on our environment, with particular focus on our oceans. The Alliance to End Plastic Waste (AEPW; www.endplasticwaste.org) has committed over $1 billion, and aims to invest $1.5 billion over the next five years toward the ambitious goal of eliminating plastic waste.
The founding members of the AEPW, which include representatives from industries across the value chain of plastics manufacture and use, are: BASF, Berry Global, Braskem, Chevron Phillips Chemical Company, Clariant, Covestro, Dow, DSM, ExxonMobil, Formosa Plastics Corp. USA, Henkel, LyondellBasell, Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings, Mitsui Chemicals, NOVA Chemicals, OxyChem, PolyOne, Procter & Gamble, Reliance Industries, the Saudi Basic Industries Corp. (SABIC), Sasol, SUEZ, Shell, SCG Chemicals, Sumitomo Chemical, Total, Veolia and Versalis (Eni).
Industry steps up to the challenge
While plastics afford many advantages that have contributed to their ever-increasing use, most plastic waste is not being recycled and plastic debris is a global environmental concern (for more, see Embracing a circular economy; CE June 2018, p. 5). Waste plastic, however, has value with the potential to be tapped, and companies are working to do this.
BASF, for example, has undertaken a project called ChemCycling, where using thermochemical processes, plastic waste that is not currently being recycled, can be broken down to oil or gaseous products that can then be used as raw materials. In December, the company announced that it has, for the first time, manufactured products based on chemically recycled plastic waste.
Also in December, SABIC signed a memorandum of understanding with Plastic Energy, Ltd. The two companies plan to build the first commercial plant in Europe to refine and upgrade a feedstock that will be made from recycled, low-quality, mixed-plastic waste. The target date for commercial production is 2021.
In October, Veolia and Unilever announced a collaboration agreement to work on emerging technologies to help reduce plastic waste. Unilever committed to use at least 25% of recycled plastic in its packaging by 2025.
These efforts, and more by both industry and academia, are all working toward creating a plastics circular economy. The AEPW looks to enhance individual efforts through cooperation in the alliance.
The Alliance to End Plastic Waste
The Alliance is a non-profit organization and has identfied four key areas for its work: Infrastructure development; Innovation; Education and engagement; and Clean-up.
The founding companies of the AEPW have strong resources and capabilities that are much-needed to address the plastics-waste problem. The announcement of the alliance brings a welcome focus of these resources in a cooperative effort for real change to this global challenge.
For more on the advances being made in recyclng plastic waste, look for our Newsfront on this topic in next month’s issue of Chemical Engineering. ■
Featured Conference
When a major incident strikes, the people stepping into Incident Command aren't always the ones who trained for it. Engineers, operators, trades supervisors, and compliance specialists may suddenly find themselves filling Command and General Staff roles — not because they volunteered, but because the situation demands it. Panelists will share practical strategies for leading without positional authority, tools and frameworks that help personnel rapidly orient to ICS roles, and approaches for closing the gap between day-to-day job functions and emergency command readiness before the next incident makes it urgent.
This session will examine produced water as the largest waste stream in the oil and gas industry and one of its most pressing emerging challenges. It will address the growing volumes of produced water, the increasing regulatory and public scrutiny of constituents such as PFAS, salts, and Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material (NORM), and the operational implications for management, treatment, reuse, and disposal. The discussion will also explore how operators, regulators, and communities are redefining approaches to produced water management in response to environmental, technical, and stakeholder pressures.
This session will present a detailed case study of a large-scale lithium-ion battery fire response that extended over 12 months. Attendees will explore the hazards associated with thermal runaway events, the operational challenges of suppressing lithium battery fires, and the response strategies that proved effective in this prolonged incident. The
Drawing on insights from U.S. EPA Region 9 wildfire response efforts, the session will also highlight tactics such as hazard characterization, air monitoring and evaluation, and household hazardous waste collection and disposal. Participants will leave with a stronger understanding of the complexities involved in large-scale battery fire incidents and the critical factors to consider when planning and executing an effective response.
This session introduces use of remote sensing technologies to detect, characterize and monitor spills across marine and coastal environments. Discussion will highlight how tools can integrate into modern spill response workflows to improve safety and support data-driven decision making.
This session provides a practical, ground‑level introduction to the essential steps required after a battery undergoes a thermal event. We’ll break down how to assess site conditions, stabilize and prepare damaged cells or packs, select appropriate containment and packaging methods, and navigate the regulatory landscape that governs transport and disposal. The lecture emphasizes real‑world decision‑making, safety considerations, and compliance requirements, giving participants a clear framework they can apply immediately in field operations or emergency response planning.