Braskem has completed the sale of recycled polyethylene (PE) produced through chemical recycling to the Copobras group

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Braskem has completed the sale of recycled polyethylene (PE) produced through chemical recycling to the Copobras group. This is the first time the company has commercialized this recycled resin in South America. This material will be used by Copobras company to produce flexible packaging for the pet food industry. Braskem’s recycled PE, like all other recycled products in its portfolio, is part of the Wenew production line, which aims to further promote the concept of a circular economy within the chemical and plastic production chain. The raw materials used to produce this recycled resin are supplied by the Finnish refining company Neste. In 2024, the two companies signed an agreement to provide recycled and bio-circular raw materials for the production of resins and chemicals. This is our first chemical recycling project in South America. Our raw materials come from our partnership with Nestlé, our role in producing recycled resin, and the products we sell to Copobras. This is an important milestone for the company in advancing sustainable development and achieving a circular economy. The cycle based on chemical recycling has been approved by Anvisa (Brazil’s health regulatory agency), and the high-purity monomers produced by this process are indistinguishable from the original monomers. Therefore, these materials fully comply with the regulations applicable to food-contact packaging and require no special authorization. This represents a significant advancement and differentiation, as it makes it possible to apply mechanical recycling to a wide range of new uses that were difficult to address due to technical and regulatory challenges. This is Braskem’s first sale in South America, reinforcing the company’s efforts in chemical recycling and the development of a more sustainable product portfolio. Since 2021, the company has invested in this field by developing research technologies and acquiring recycled materials produced through pyrolysis. Furthermore, the recycled PE supplied to the Copobras group is ISCC Plus certified, enhancing the quality and recyclability of the product. The development process of Braskem’s cyclic PE is of the highest quality, and we are very proud to be the first company to use this resin. Such solutions must appear on the market increasingly to ensure sustainable standards for the entire industry. This is a key way to meet the demand from consumers and brand owners for more sustainable products. Braskem’s circular economy strategy focuses on developing products and solutions that align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This includes developing technologies and commercialized products derived from mechanical and chemical recycling, strengthening the company’s role in the circular economy, and expanding Wenew’s product portfolio through solutions that meet customer needs. Compared to traditional raw resins, the Wenew resin combination can also reduce carbon emissions by up to 48%. The new recycled PE has been added to the product portfolio as another key factor in achieving Braskem’s circularity goal, which is to increase the sales volume of products containing recycled materials to 1 million tons by 2030.