ESG

CO₂ conversion technology

Braskem and Northwestern University (USA) joined in a partnership to develop a technology platform for converting CO₂ generated by industrial operations. It is based on co-electrolysis, a technology that makes full use of electricity to convert CO₂ into products of interest. In typical electrochemical devices, apart from CO₂ conversion, water is converted into oxygen, which has no high commercial value. However, in this new strategy, two reactions of interest occur at the same time, resulting in greater productivity of the system, which creates intermediate chemicals and/or final products for commercial interest applications.

FOSSI

Braskem is proud to be a sponsor of FOSSI and support students by providing scholarships to study #STEM at a Historically Black College, mentorships, leadership training, and internship opportunities.

Braskem is committed to advancing #STEM education at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and creating a pipeline of candidates to build a more diverse chemical industry workforce. Through partnerships like this, we can help open the doors to diverse and highly talented individuals ready to tackle significant challenges.

Global Volunteering Program

Braskem's Global Volunteer program was launched in 2017 and aims to give our team members an opportunity to serve to improve people's lives. Braskem's volunteer efforts focus on causes related to our Sustainable Development strategy and on communities and areas where Braskem operates.

Integrated CO₂ capture and conversion

Braskem has joined forces with the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) to develop a new route for producing ethylene, a raw material used to make thermoplastic resins. This route will use capture and utilization technology to remove CO₂ emissions from existing industrial processes that would otherwise be released into the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas and is considered the largest contributor to climate change. These emissions are produced whenever coal, oil, natural gas, or other carbon-rich fossil fuels are burned. The carbon capture and utilization technology under development at UIC in conjunction with Braskem holds excellent potential for many global industrial applications by connecting the capture and conversion of waste CO₂ streams with the production of sustainable feedstock for making plastic.

Marcus Hook Recycling Drop-Off Center Creation

In 2022, Braskem financed a new community recycling drop-off center in Marcus Hook, PA. This drop-off center provides 2400+ community members the opportunity to recycle common household items.

Membrane technology for carbon capture

Together with Compact Membrane Systems (CMS), a joint development agreement to pilot CMS Optiperm^TM carbon membrane technology for carbon capture on post-combustion flue gas. The pilot project is designed to capture at least 1 toner day of carbon dioxide (>350 tons per year), this will be the first commercial demonstration of CMS carbon capture technology. The process will validate economic viability and capture >90% of the CO₂ from the feed using commercial-scale membranes. CMS has demonstrated the viability of the membrane technology at the lab scale. The demonstration will focus on validating the full low-cost, low-energy, easy-to-operate customer solution: operating window, system design, and control scheme. The pilot is scheduled to be deployed in 2024 after the selection of an engineering firm.

Nexus Circular

In the United States, Braskem signed a 10-year commercial agreement for the supply of circular raw materials, coming from a new chemical recycling unit of Nexus Circular, a company that converts plastics that are difficult to recycle, such as plastic films discarded in landfills, into raw material. Braskem also has a small equity stake in Nexus Circular.

Operation Clean Sweep

Braskem America is a member of Operation Clean Sweep (OCS) blue, a joint stewardship program administered by the American Chemistry Council and the PLASTICS Trade Association. OCS is a global program to provent pre-production plastic loss to the natural environment. OCS blue member is the most robust membership tier which requires 3rd party verification to ensure the requirements of the program are being met. OCS has been implemented in more than 60 countries worldwide and Braskem also participates in this program in Brazil, Mexico, and Europe.

Philadelphia Eagles Partnership

Braskem entered a 9-year sustainability partnership with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2018 which includes a recycling program to support plastics recycling of items used in stadium operations, collaboration in community volunteer projects, and an online education platform called STEM Scholars to help promote and engage Greater Philadelphia region school children in STEM learning and career pathways.

PlastiVan

We are the national PlastiVan® Program sponsor. The program is designed to excite students about opportunities in science and engineering within the plastics industry. Students are educated about the chemistry, history, processing, manufacturing, and sustainability of plastics and how the science and real-world applications relate to their everyday lives.

This is a way to nurture the development of the future workforce by opening the minds of students to careers in science, engineering, technology, and mathematics (STEM), subjects that are utilized daily in the plastics industry.

Post Consumer Recycled (PCR)

Braskem America offers a wide range of PCR polypropylene products and is continuously working on developing new PCR grades to achieve wide-reaching market commitments. Also, our PCR grades can be used in a variety of applications, such as food and beverage (containers, caps, and closures); cosmetics (containers, caps, and closures); housewares; and auto/industrial. 

Learn more on the Wenew website , our circularity ecosystem that brings together Braskem's products, technologies, and initiatives that are helping to drive the circular economy.

REMADE

Braskem America, Inc. has signed a membership agreement with REMADE, an institute committed to accelerating the circular economy through the development of sustainable manufacturing technologies that lead to real, near-term energy, environmental, industrial decarbonization, and economic impacts. The agreement allows us to send project proposals or to participate in projects as partners. We currently have 3 ongoing projects in a total amount of $12.5M where 50% is funded by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).

The Franklin Institute - Official Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Sponsor

In 2018, Braskem was elected the first official Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion sponsor of the Franklin Institute. Together, Braskem and the Institute encourage diversity and inclusion through programs, such as: Color of Science, Women in Science, and Introduce a Girl to Engineering, among others.

These programs aim to encourage a more inclusive vision of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) careers for the 21st Century and include hands-on activities, special workshop offerings, as well as opportunities for one-on-one interactions with academic leaders, industry executives, and influential leaders.