Braskem Expands Its Biopolymer Production by 30% Following an Investment of US$ 87 Million

The Brazilian bio-based ethylene facility is now operating at a capacity of 260 thousand tons per year.

The celebrated expansion of the world’s first, industrial scale, bio-polyethylene comes thirteen years after Braskem’s I’m green^TM bio-based plastics were first sold globally.

In June, Braskem concluded a 30% increase in the production capacity of its bio-based ethylene plant, located in the Petrochemical Complex of Triunfo, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The US$ 87 million investment aims to meet the growing global demand for sustainable products. The plant now operates at an increased capacity, from 200,000 to 260,000 tons/year. Braskem’s bio-based ethylene is made from sustainably sourced, sugarcane-based ethanol which removes CO₂ from the atmosphere and stores it in products for daily use.

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Braskem's green ethylene plant at Triunfo, Brazil (Photo: Business Wire)

The initiative is an important advance in the company's ambition to increase the production of biopolymers to one million tons by 2030, and to become carbon neutral by 2050.

"The expansion of bio-based ethylene capacity reinforces Braskem’s commitment to sustainable development and innovation and proves the success of the strategy we engaged in thirteen years ago, when we launched the world’s first bio-based polyethylene production at industrial scale, with proprietary technology. We want to meet society's and customers' demand for products with less impact on the environment,” explains Walmir Soller, O/P VP for Europe and Asia and responsible for the I’m green^TM bio-based business globally.

Each ton of plastic resin made from renewable feedstock represents the removal of 3 tons of CO₂ from the atmosphere. Since the plant's beginning in 2010, more than 1.2 million tons of I’m green^TM bio-based polyethylene has been produced. The recent increase in production capacity will remove approximately 185,000 tons of CO₂ equivalent per year.

Braskem is the world leader in the production of biopolymers. Today, the portfolio of bio-based resins is exported to more than 30 countries and is used in products from more than 250 major brands, such as Allbirds, DUO UK, Grupo Boticário, Johnson&Johnson, Natura & Co, Nissin, and Tetra Pak. These bio-based resins are used to manufacture packaging, bags, toys, housewares, industrial cables and wires, packaging films, hockey fields, and reusable water bottles among many other products.

The development and production of ethylene and resins from bio-based sources is the result of Braskem's continued investment in disruptive innovation and technology. Research, digital transformation, and bold partnerships are the foundations upon which Braskem searches for, and scales, sustainable solutions for society and the environment. Braskem’s current sustainability commitments include improving the circularity of plastics, promoting human-centric development, and leading the revolution in bio-based materials.

ABOUT BRASKEM

With a global vision of the future oriented toward people and sustainability, Braskem is committed to contributing to the value chain for strengthening the Circular Economy. The petrochemical company’s almost 9,000 team members dedicate themselves every day to improving people’s lives through sustainable chemicals and plastics solutions. Braskem has an innovative DNA and a comprehensive portfolio of plastic resins and chemical products for diverse segments, such as food packaging, construction, manufacturing, automotive, agribusiness, healthcare, and hygiene, among others. With 40 industrial units in Brazil, the United States, Mexico, and Germany, and exports its products to clients in more than 70 countries.

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