Braskem Celebrates 15 years of Bio-based PE with Boosted Capacity

Braskem is celebrating 15 years as a producer of the I’m green bio-based portfolio by celebrating the 37% expansion in production capacity at the green ethylene unit in Triunfo, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Now, the company's production capacity is 275,000 tonnes/year of green ethylene, which is the raw material used in the production of Braskem's I’m green bio-based polyethylene.

In 2010, when Braskem started operations, its capacity of green ethylene was 200,000 tonnes/year. Green ethylene offers the same quality and versatility as fossil-based products, but with the added benefit of capturing about two tonnes of carbon dioxide for every tonne produced, measured throughout its production chain up to Braskem's gate. This additional capacity in biopolymer production will represent the capture of approximately 159,000 tonnes of CO₂ per year, equivalent to the carbon emitted by 12,000 U.S. citizens in one year.

“In 2025, as we celebrate the anniversary of our pioneering I'm green bio-based brand, we reflect on the remarkable journey we've undertaken in advancing sustainable plastics and chemicals. This milestone is not just a testament to our innovation and leadership in biopolymers but also a celebration of our commitment to a sustainable future. The expansion of our bio-ethylene unit in 2023 was a significant step forward in our mission to support the industry and brand owners on the sustainability journey, and it brings us closer to our goal of becoming carbon-neutral by 2050. We are proud of what we've achieved and are excited about the future possibilities," says Walmir Soller, Vice President for North America, Europe, and Asia – NAMEA and CEO of Braskem BV.

MLT Analytics has published a bio-based polyolefins report that forecasts the global market for these green polymers to multiply by a factor of more than 15 between 2024 and 2032 to a volume of more than 5.7 million tonnes.