Braskem, the largest producer of thermoplastic resins in the Americas, and Muzzicycles, a Brazil-based bicycle manufacturer, have partnered to promote recycling and transform plastic through Wecycle. By integrating the platform, Muzzicycles now receives polyethylene resins from recycling cooperatives supported and verified by Wecycle and included in the ser+realizador program, which collaborates with the management of cooperatives in 11 Brazilian states, with incentives from Braskem.

Currently, Muzzicycles has the capacity to produce 132,000 bicycle frames per year, which accounts for the recycling of 150,000 of plastic waste, preventing the material from being discarded in landfills. Each frame contains roughly three kilograms of plastic, 30% of which is recycled. The mixture between virgin and recycled polymer is necessary to ensure the good mechanical performance of the bicycle.

The advantages of plastic frames include resistance and impact absorption - two features of polyethylene - and the lifetime warranty for use. After collection, recycling and transformation of the plastic, with the support of Braskem, the bicycles are assembled and marketed in different colors.

"Adding recycled plastic as a raw material for bicycles is another demonstration of the diversity of applications of this material and an incentive for more sustainable and creative practices and attitudes in various production sectors," said André Leonel Leal, from Braskem.

Wecycle
The Wecycle platform was created with the purpose of promoting business and initiatives for the utilization of plastic waste, reinforcing Braskem's commitment to the plastic chain in Brazil. It focuses on the development of products with post-consumer recycled content with greater reliability on the raw material source, technical quality and reliability, and the social and environmental commitment of the chain involved.

About Braskem
Braskem is the largest manufacturer of thermoplastic resins in the Americas, with an annual output of over 20 million metric tons, including the production of other basic chemical and petrochemical products, with an annual revenue of R$55 billion. With the aim of improving the lives of people, creating sustainable solutions in chemistry and plastics, Braskem exports to customers in approximately 100 countries, with roughly 8,000 members, and operates 41 industrial units located in Brazil, the United States, Germany, and Mexico - the latter in partnership with the Mexico-based company Idesa.