According to a 2018 Environmental Protection Agency report, less than 10 percent of all discarded plastics are recycled, with the majority being either incinerated or ending up in a landfill or back in the environment. However, new technologies, collaborations, and policies aim to significantly improve recycling rates and support a more circular economy of plastic usage. One such technology is advanced recycling, a process that enables plastic waste to be recycled back into its molecular building blocks and become the raw material needed to make new products.

The third program of Asia Society Texas' Energy Transition Series looks into how advanced recycling technologies are being deployed in Houston and the Asia Pacific on a significant scale to address plastic waste.

Mario Chavez, Advanced Recycling Venture Executive at ExxonMobil, along with moderator Dr. Rachel A. Meidl, the Baker Institute’s Fellow in Energy and Environment, will present an examination of the innovative strategies, technological advancements, and collaborative initiatives aimed at accelerating the transition to a more responsible approach in plastic utilization.