June 9, 2025
In May, Shell Polymers and Freepoint Eco-Systems announced a landmark agreement where Shell’s petrochemical plant in Monaca, Pennsylvania, will offtake more than one hundred million pounds of recycled plastic feedstock annually from Freepoint’s advanced recycling facility in Hebron, Ohio.
This agreement is remarkable because, as a leading producer of plastic, the strategic importance of Pennsylvania’s plastics industry cannot be overstated. Our nation’s transportation, energy, consumer goods, defense, and healthcare all depend on plastics. They are responsible for most healthcare products and medical devices, the building blocks for renewable energy, high-performing building materials, food packaging, electronics, clothing, vehicles, military equipment, and much more.
Everywhere you turn, Pennsylvanians rely on plastics for the modern quality of life we all enjoy.
And plastics manufacturing is not just about materials; it’s also about jobs, innovation, and environmental responsibility. Pennsylvania’s plastics industry provides 40,000 jobs and generates more than $17 billion in annual sales.
Thankfully, innovative recycling technologies increase our much-needed domestic plastics supply while addressing the challenge of plastic waste. As demonstrated by the Shell-Freepoint agreement, end-of-life plastics once destined for the landfill or the environment can now be recycled and remanufactured into high-quality feedstock for new consumer products.
For Pennsylvania to lead the way, we need to develop strong industry-government partnerships, driving innovation and best practices, and creating a policy framework that incentivises innovation.
The partnership between Shell and Freepoint embodies a commitment to a thriving economy and a sustainable future without sacrificing the quality of consumer products society demands.
Steven Kratz, President
Pennsylvania Chemical Industry Council