HOUSTON and ROTTERDAM, Netherlands, Sept. 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- LyondellBasell, one of the largest plastics, chemicals and refining companies in the world, for the 18th consecutive year harnessed the power of thousands of its employees and their family members on Global Care Day. During this day of community engagement, 58 of LyondellBasell's manufacturing sites and offices in 23 countries partnered with local community organizations to meet needs in the areas of education, health and the environment.

Some examples of projects include: 

• Houston, Texas: Following the devastation of Hurricane Harvey, the company's operational headquarters in Houston chose to shift their project to help the Houston Food Bank, an organization that will play an integral part of the city's recovery following the massive storm. Volunteers produced the equivalent of a meal a minute while sorting, inspecting, processing and packing food. The Houston Food Bank is a member of Feeding America, the nation's largest non-governmental, domestic hunger relief organization, whose goal is to make food accessible to hungry people in their greatest times of need.

• Pindamonhangaba, Brazil: Volunteers organized a blood drive that will help maintain the blood supplies in the hospitals of Vale do Paraíba. The company's manufacturing site partnered with the University of São Paulo's Taubaté' Hemonúcleo, an organization dedicated to promoting the importance of blood donations in the region.

• Rayong, Thailand: Volunteers hosted a day of games and activities designed to cultivate children's critical thinking skills at the Pattaya Orphanage. Established nearly 40 years ago with a policy of turning no child away, the group focuses on promoting the well-being and development of children through health and education programs.

• Rotterdam, The Netherlands: Volunteers participated in landscaping projects that rejuvenated and refurbished Kinderboederji de Kraal's Petting Zoo. The petting zoo is home to donkeys, llamas and horses, and provides a place for children to experience their first animal encounters in a safe, educational setting.

"There are many reasons why people volunteer, but no matter why each individual chooses to give their time, we're grateful that employees are dedicated to helping LyondellBasell's mission of being a responsible, good neighbor in the communities where we operate," said Richard Roudeix, LyondellBasell's senior vice president of Olefins & Polyolefins in Europe, Asia and International. "Projects like Global Care Day unite the company across the world and demonstrate that when we work together it is possible to make a big impact." Over the past 18 years, LyondellBasell employees and their families have cumulatively donated more than 179,000 volunteer hours on Global Care Day.

"Seeing our employees come together following a storm that ravaged our region was truly inspiring," said Paul Augustowski, LyondellBasell's senior vice president of Olefins & Polyolefins for the Americas. "This year's Global Care Day had a special meaning because it seemed as though every person on our Houston-area team knows someone who has been personally impacted by this storm. We were extremely grateful for the opportunity to make a big difference in the community."

About LyondellBasell LyondellBasell (NYSE: LYB) is one of the largest plastics, chemicals and refining companies in the world. Driven by its 13,000 employees around the globe, LyondellBasell produces materials and products that are key to advancing solutions to modern challenges like enhancing food safety through lightweight and flexible packaging, protecting the purity of water supplies through stronger and more versatile pipes, and improving the safety, comfort and fuel efficiency of many of the cars and trucks on the road. LyondellBasell sells products into approximately 100 countries and is the world's largest licensor of polyolefin and polypropylene technologies. More information about LyondellBasell can be found at www.lyondellbasell.com.