Brazilian chemical maker Braskem recently announced a $61-million investment plan to expand its biopolymer production. The company said that it planned to increase its capacity to produce sugar-based ethylene that will be used to manufacture renewable resins. This expansion project would meet the growing global demand for biopolymers and help Braskem become a carbon-neutral company by 2050.
Braskem operates a 200,000 tons/year biopolymer plant at Triunfo, in Rio Grande do Sul. The company exports biopolymers to over 30 countries, with customers consisting of more than 250 major brand owners such as Johnson & Johnson, Nissin, Tetra Pak, Shiseido, DUO UK, Grupo Boticário, Allbirds, Natura & Co, and Join The Pipe.
The project will expand the complex’s biopolymer capacity to 260,000 tons/year. It is due to start this year and is slated for completion in the fourth quarter of 2022. The expanded biopolymer capacity would allow Braskem to reduce its CO2 emissions by 185,000 tons/year.
Braskem’s Technology and Innovation Center began assessing opportunities to produce biopolymer in 2007 to take advantage of Brazil’s large sugarcane and ethanol production. The company had invested$290 million to build the Triunfo industrial unit, which produced its first bio-based polyethylene (PE) in 2010. This PE is now marketed under Braskem’s “I’m green ™” brand. This brand also includes bio-based Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA) used in the footwear, automotive, and other industries.
