Brazilian petrochemical Braskem has opened its first representative office in Japan, one of the key markets for the firm’s I’m green bio-based polyethylene. The Tokyo office ‘marks Braskem’s continuous commitment to the Japanese market’, it said in a statement, adding that having its own staff on the ground will help further develop its biopolymer solutions.
"We are always looking for opportunities to expand the I'm green bio-based PE reach and deliver low-carbon alternatives to our customers, aligned with the increasing societal demand for sustainable solutions,” said Walmir Soller, VP of Braskem for Europe & Asia. “Our representative office in Japan will be Braskem's ambassador to work together with local stakeholders, and advocate for the development of the low carbon solutions. We want to be an active partner in Japan's journey towards net zero, contributing with our experience and track record in producing plastics from sustainably sourced renewable feedstock."
Braskem’s I’m green biopolymer is made from sugar cane ethanol, an abundant resource in Brazil. This June, Braskem finalised an investment of $87 million to add more than 130 million pounds of bio-based plastic feedstock in Triunfo, Brazil. The plant now has annual production capacity of about 570 million pounds of bio-based ethylene, which is used to make bio-based polyethylene resins. The increase represents a gain of 30 percent vs. the site's previous capacity.
The company also recently joined forces with SCG Chemicals to build a I’m green bio-ethylene plant in Thailand, the first of its kind outside of Brazil.
Braskem's portfolio of bio-based resins is exported to more than 30 countries and is used in products from more than 250 major brands, such as Johnson & Johnson and Tetra Pak. These bio-based resins are used to make packaging, bags, toys, housewares, industrial wires and cables, packaging films, reusable water bottles and other products.