Developing solutions that meet the needs of its clients is one of Braskem's strategies to drive innovations that contribute to various sectors of the economy. In partnership with Extraplast , the company has just developed a new solution using polyethylene-based resins to make bale wrap, a plastic film used to pack dry hay bales, which are used to feed dairy cows in feedlot operations and horses.

The new solution uses metallocene-based polyethylene (PE) and a layer that combines Flexus Cling® products and the liquid resin PIB32. This gives the wrap superior puncture strength and resistance against the action of time, while protecting the bales from air, humidity and light. Another important aspect is that, because of the structure of the resins used and the molecular orientation obtained from the cast process, the bale remains more compacted after applying the film. Its use facilitates the hay packing process and helps preserve it for longer, maintaining the product's nutritional and flavor characteristics. 

The new wraps are made using a cast process (extrusion model), which consumes less energy and enables productivity gains of up to 30% compared to the method used abroad. 

 "This was yet another project conducted in partnership with a client, in a strategy that has created various innovation fronts at Braskem. The product effectively expands our portfolio of products targeting the agriculture industry ," said Marcial Cesar Vieira, application engineer at the company.

According to the specialist, the cast process enables productivity gains and more competitive performance compared to imported films. "Given the high product quality and the advantages of the production process obtained, we are even considering exporting the solution, in other words, the opposite of what occurs today," he added.

Attentive to the lifecycle of plastic products and the circular economy , Braskem notes that another advantage of the new wrap is that it is made from polyethylene, which makes it 100% recyclable.