Braskem develops world’s first certified green polyethylene

Flexible packaging is about to get a lot greener. Brazilian thermoplastic-resin manufacturer Braskem has produced the first internationally-certified polyethylene made from sugarcane ethanol. This $5 million investment has resulted in a high-density polyethylene, made from 100-percent renewable raw materials.

The project is now in technical and economic specification process and the startup of green-polyethylene production on an industrial scale is expected in late 2009.

"The leadership of Braskem in the green polyethylene project confirms our commitment to innovation and sustainable development, and creates a very favorable outlook for the development of plastic products made from renewable raw materials, a field in which Brazil has natural competitive advantages", comments José Carlos Grubisich, Braskem chief executive officer.

Company studies project for commercial production of plastic made from ethanol starting in 2009.