PHILADELPHIA – Braskem has 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.

Braskem is the world leader in the production of biopolymers and its portfolio of bio-based resins is exported to more than 30 countries and is used in products from more than 250 major brands, including many of the leading nonwovens-based absorbent hygiene products manufacturers.

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 per 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.

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 our commitment to sustainable development and innovation,” said Walmir Soller who is responsible for Braskem’s I’m green bio-based business globally. “It 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.”

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