Petrochemical Products

Across the petrochemical industry, companies are recognizing that building a circular economy for plastics isn’t a solo endeavor — it’s a collective mission. Through strategic partnerships, manufacturers are taking a comprehensive approach to increasing recycling and tackling hard-to-recycle materials across sectors.

Are you glued to the TV for the 2026 Winter Olympics in northern Italy? We absolutely are, and as we root for Team USA to win it all, we can’t help but notice how petrochemicals are essential to the Games.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM), in partnership with the Science History Institute and the Founders Club, is proud to announce that Bhavesh V. (Bob) Patel, retired CEO of LyondellBasell Industries, will receive the 2026 Petrochemical Heritage Award during AFPM’s International Petrochemical Conference on March 30.

Since TSCA directly affects a company’s ability to make, import, sell and use chemicals, it has implications for entire American supply chains and interstate commerce.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM) Vice President of Petrochemicals and Midstream Rob Benedict issued the following statement at the conclusion of the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC- 5.2) where a global agreement to end plastic pollution was not reached, though participating nations have agreed to continue the process.

We recently celebrated the anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing — a monumental achievement for both American ingenuity and human curiosity.

Given low domestic recycling rates for plastic, the efficacy of recycling is often called into question. But that doesn’t mean recycling doesn’t work. Advanced recycling technologies — as well as traditional mechanical recycling — play a pivotal role in addressing plastic waste and recovering the value in used plastics.

Narratives that pit the refining and petrochemical industries against electric vehicles (EVs) ignore the symbiotic relationship of these industries. If you review the history of EVs – you will see that refining and petrochemical companies have been foundational to the EV market all along and will continue to be far into the future.

Bridget Confait-Smith is the Associate Director of Research, Innovation, Technology and Global Sustainability with Westlake Corporation.