Braskem introduces new recycled PVC solutions to the market

Compounds produced using recycled raw materials amplify the company's Wenew portfolio and further enhance its position towards promoting a circular economy. The solutions have the potential to return upwards of 1,000 tons of recycled PVC compound per year to the production chain.

 

In an effort to provide solutions that promote the circular economy in the industry, Braskem has unveiled two new PVC solutions that are produced from recycled raw materials. The two new compounds are part of the Wenew portfolio, Braskem's circularity ecosystem.

One of these products, a pioneering release in the country, is a recycled PVC compound made from some components of Braskem's own big bag packaging used to transport PVC resin. Once reaching the end of their useful life of around 6 years, the bag hoods are recycled and returned to the production cycle in the form of new hoods. Roughly 100 tons of recyclable material are available per year to produce this new hood, making it possible to produce around 55,000 units of big bag hoods over this period.

The hood produced from the recycled compound is used at Braskem's plants in Bahia and Alagoas. There are currently 11,000 units of hoods ready to go that are now in use by Braskem customers, and the plan is to further increase the volume of recycling with the development of new recycled PVC materials. The flexible compound can also be used in other applications such as footwear, laminates, hoses, etc.

The other solution is a recycled PVC compound to be used in transforming rigid products. With an expected production of up to 100 tons of the compound per month, the product can be applied in the construction sector for the production of items such as smooth electric cable, tiles, LVT flooring, etc.

Almir Cotias Filho, Braskem's Vinyls Executive Officer, stated, "Expanding the portfolio of products through recycled raw materials is one of Braskem's commitments that plays a role in driving sustainability throughout the production chain, helping to fulfill circularity challenges and targets."

 The company is focused on including 300,000 tons of products with recycled content in its portfolio by 2025 and 1 million tons of these products by 2030, as well as preventing 1.5 million pieces of plastic waste from being sent to incineration, landfills or improperly dumped into the environment by the same year.