The Copobras Group has purchased circular polyethylene (PE), which is made by chemical recycling, from Braskem, a multinational petrochemical firm that creates sustainable chemical and plastic solutions to enhance people’s lives. This is the first time the business has brought this type of circular resin to the South American market. Copobras will use the material to make flexible packaging for the pet food market.
The Wenew line, which strives to further promote the idea of a circular economy within the chemical and plastics production chain, includes Braskem’s circular PE as well as all other circular goods in its portfolio. Neste, a Finnish refining firm, provided the raw material used to make this circular resin. The two businesses agreed to supply circular and bio-circular feedstocks for the manufacturing of chemicals and resins in 2024.
“This is our first chemical recycling case in South America. We had the feedstock from our partnership with Neste, our role in producing the circular resin, and the sale to Copobras. This is a major milestone for the company in advancing sustainable development and realizing the circular economy,” said Pier Pesce , Business Development Manager at Braskem South America.
Anvisa, Brazil’s Health Regulatory Agency, has already acknowledged the circularity of chemical recycling, and the method yields high-purity monomers that are identical to those of virgin origin. As a result, the materials can be used in food-contact packaging without a special permit because they completely comply with all current requirements. This is a major breakthrough and differentiator since it opens up a plethora of new applications that mechanical recycling finds difficult to fulfill because of technical and legal restrictions.
Braskem’s efforts to recycle chemicals and build a more sustainable product line are strengthened by this first sale in South America. The business has made investments in this field since 2021 by conducting technological development research and purchasing circular feedstocks made via pyrolysis. Furthermore, the Copobras Group’s circular PE is ISCC Plus certified, confirming the product’s quality and circularity.
“The development process of Braskem’s circular PE is of the highest quality, and we are very proud to be the first to use this resin. Solutions like this must become increasingly present in the market to ensure sustainable standards across the sector. This is a crucial path to meet consumer and brand owner demands for more sustainable products,” said Morgana Bon , Product Engineering Manager at the Copobras Group.
