Braskem, a global petrochemical company that develops sustainable chemical and plastic solutions to improve people's lives, has completed the sale of circular polyethylene (PE), produced through chemical recycling, to the Copobras Group. This marks the first time the company has commercialized such circular resin in South America. The material will be used by Copobras to produce flexible packaging for the pet food segment.

Braskem's circular PE, like all other circular products in its portfolio, is part of the  Wenew  line, which aims to further promote the concept of a circular economy within the chemical and plastics production chain. The raw material used to produce this circular resin was supplied by  Neste , a Finnish refining company. In 2024, the two companies signed an agreement for the supply of circular and bio-circular feedstocks for the production of resins and chemicals.

"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.

Chemical recycling-based circularity is already recognized by  Anvisa  (Brazil's Health Regulatory Agency), and the process produces high-purity monomers that are indistinguishable from virgin-origin monomers. Therefore, the materials fully comply with applicable regulations for use in food-contact packaging without requiring specific authorization. This represents a significant advancement and differentiator, as it enables a wide range of new applications that mechanical recycling struggles to meet due to technical and regulatory challenges.

This first sale in South America solidifies Braskem's initiatives in chemical recycling and the development of an increasingly sustainable product portfolio. Since 2021, the company has invested in this area through research into technology development and the acquisition of circular feedstocks produced via pyrolysis. Additionally, the circular PE supplied to the Copobras Group is  ISCC Plus certified , reinforcing 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.

Committed to Sustainable Development

Braskem's circular economy strategy focuses on developing products and solutions aligned with the  UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) . This includes creating technologies and commercializing products derived from both mechanical and chemical recycling, consolidating the company's role in the circular economy and expanding the  Wenew  portfolio with solutions that meet customer needs.

The Wenew resin portfolio also stands out for reducing carbon emissions by up to  48%  compared to conventional virgin resins. The new circular PE joins the portfolio as another key contributor toward Braskem's circularity goal-to expand sales of products with recycled content to  1 million tons by 2030.

About Braskem

Braskem is a global petrochemical company focused on people and the future, fostering strong relationships and generating value for all. Offering sustainable chemical and plastic solutions to improve lives, the company has a comprehensive portfolio of plastic resins and chemicals for various sectors, including food packaging, construction, industry, automotive, agribusiness, health, and hygiene. Braskem believes that disruptive innovation is the only path to a new relationship with the planet. That's why it chooses to act now, promoting plastic circularity and driving the revolution of bio-based materials. With  40 industrial units  in Brazil, the US, Mexico, and Germany, Braskem exports to clients in over  71 countries , supported by  8,500 team members  operating globally under a management model committed to ethics, compliance, and responsible competitiveness.

More information: https://www.braskem.com.br

About the Copobras Group

The Copobras Group is a leader in its market segments with over  50 years of history , playing a significant role in people's lives. Its brands include  Incoplast , a reference in flexible packaging with a strong presence in the pet food market, and  Copobras , specialized in recyclable disposable solutions. With  13 production units  across  6 Brazilian states , the group operates both nationally and internationally, reaching several countries.

More information: https://www.copobras.com.br