{"id":10803,"date":"2025-12-15T05:13:57","date_gmt":"2025-12-15T10:13:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.packagingindustrynews.com\/?p=10803"},"modified":"2025-12-15T05:13:57","modified_gmt":"2025-12-15T10:13:57","slug":"exxonmobil-commissions-lcas-to-highlight-pe-packagings-merits","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.packagingindustrynews.com\/?p=10803","title":{"rendered":"ExxonMobil commissions LCAs to highlight PE packaging\u2019s merits \u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"


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The results indicate that, when combined, PE packaging required four to five times less material than the alternative materials assessed. Credit: Pinglabel \/ Shutterstock.com <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

US-based ExxonMobil has commissioned two peer-reviewed lifecycle assessments (LCAs) to examine the environmental impacts of polyethylene (PE) packaging alongside alternative materials such as metal, glass and paper.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The assessments reviewed commonly used packaging formats such as produce bags, fertiliser bags and personal care bottles.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

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They evaluated impacts across the full lifecycle, covering raw material production, transportation, use and end-of-life disposal.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The results indicate that, when combined, PE packaging required four to five times less material than the alternative materials assessed.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Across the full lifecycle, PE packaging generates around half the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of the alternatives analysed.\u00a0<\/p>\n

In addition to emissions, the studies considered fossil resource consumption and water scarcity.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

The findings suggest that PE packaging uses fewer fossil resources and reduces water scarcity in around half or more of the cases reviewed.\u00a0<\/p>\n

ExxonMobil states that the studies represent some of the most extensive assessments of PE packaging conducted to date, covering two-thirds of PE packaging markets in the US and Europe.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

These are the first published LCAs to focus solely on PE packaging while directly comparing it with non-plastic materials such as metal, glass and paper.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The US-focused study was published in Science of the Total Environment and carried out in collaboration with Trayak.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

The European study appeared in Cleaner Environmental Systems and was led by the University of Applied Sciences Vienna and Circular Analytics TK.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Both projects involved collaboration with Michigan State University\u2019s School of Packaging.\u00a0<\/p>\n

LCAs are used by regulators, policymakers and businesses to better understand the environmental implications of different materials and to support material selection decisions.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

The company also referenced its analysis of data from Breaking the Plastic Wave: A Comprehensive Assessment of Pathways Towards Stopping Ocean Plastic Pollution, which estimates that plastic packaging can cost up to 45% less than substitute materials.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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