PHILADELPHIA – Braskem, the largest polyolefins producer in the Americas and a global market leader and producer of biopolymers on an industrial scale, is evaluating making an investment in producing carbon negative bio-based polypropylene (PP) in the US.

The project would utilise Braskem’s proven, proprietary technology to convert bioethanol into physically segregated bio-based polypropylene and the company is exploring partnership opportunities for the project with several clients, brand owners and suppliers.

“Building on our core technology and market leadership, we are actively evaluating a project to produce the world’s first bio-based polypropylene on an industrial scale to support our ambitious sustainability objectives and deliver tangible solutions to our clients,” said Mark Nikolich, Braskem America CEO. “As an established leader in the innovation and production of bio-based materials, we have seen the demand for our bio-based materials grow significantly since our initial product launches.

“This new US-based project would not only serve a growing market for sustainable solutions but also reduce our reliance on fossil feedstock. Expanding our portfolio to include bio-based PP supports the goal of growing to one million tons of biopolymers capacity by 2030 and becoming carbon neutral by 2050.”

The USA is home to the largest ethanol industry production in the world and has ample technology, infrastructure, and supply availability for a project in the PP value chain. Braskem’s bio-based PP would be a drop-in solution that has the same technical properties and recyclability found today in Braskem’s current PP portfolio, with the additional benefit of a negative carbon footprint.