São Paulo, 29th October 2008 - In Brazil's Formula 1 GP next Sunday, November 2nd, at Interlagos, São Paulo, the race's podium which will consecrate the world champion of 2008 will also demonstrate an important Brazilian victory in the field of innovations: the trophies given to the first, second and third places were designed by architect Oscar Niemeyer and made of an original material in the history of the competition, Braskem's green plastic.

The only certified polyethylene in the world made of 100% renewable materials - sugar cane ethanol, the green polymer is the confirmation of the commitment of Braskem, a petrochemistry company which is the leader in the Latin American market and the third greatest thermoplastic resin producer of the Americas, based on sustainable development. To transform the green plastic into a work of art, Braskem brought together its own innovation and Niemeyer's creativity.

"We are proud to be a Brazilian company presenting the results of constants investments in technology in an international event. While everyone is just discoursing, our team-work of innovation and technology makes it real and is ready to serve partners that are committed with sustainability", says Bernardo Gradin, Braskem's chairman, highlighting that the trophies structure is made of the first ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene in the world with an 100% vegetal source. This engineering plastic called UTEC® is widely used in industrial sectors such as the automobile and naval, among others.

The green plastic developed by Braskem's Technology and Innovation Center received in 2007 one of the most important international prizes of the field, the Bio Plastic Award in Europe. Besides using renewable raw materials, it provides the removal of carbon from the atmosphere throughout its full cycle: from the cultivation of sugar cane to the recycling of the product post-consumption, contributing to the reduction of the greenhouse effect. And the partners will have the option to industrialize in the same machine of the traditional resin.

The trophy designed by Niemeyer was inspired by the columns of the Alvorada Palace. "Architecture follows the path of a work of art and what characterizes art is emotion and surprise. The Alvorada column is one of the symbols of Brasilia's architecture. We could have done it any shape: rectangular, straight, with no complexity. However, we chose to use a column shape that had never been made before", says Oscar Niemeyer.

Braskem has been making consistent investments in technological research throughout its six years of existence. The focus on the innovation area allows a greater competitiveness to the whole production chain of the petrochemistry and plastic industry, always thinking from the partners’ dream..

With a team formed by 170 specialists and research and development assets ranging around R$330 million, the company has over 200 patents registered in Brazil and in the world. Besides being responsible for the green polyethylene, Braskem was also the first company in the world to certify a polypropylene made of 100% renewable raw materials.

Currently, the production of 12 thousand tons/years of green polyethylene is originated from a pilot unit, the Technology and Innovation Center of Braskem. The project for industrial scale production is in its implementation phase in Triunfo, in the South of the country. The expectation is to produce 200 thousand tons/year as of 2011.

The automobile industry has shown great interest for Braskem's green plastic. In September, Braskem signed a deal with Toyota Tsusho to distribute the product in the Asian market. At least 50 tons will be intended for the continent.

Important partners, such as the high standard cosmetic multinational company, Shiseido, have already formalized their interested in green plastic. The use of green plastic is a real action of Braskem and their partners in favor to the planet.