On Thursday, Philadelphia-based Braskem said it was partnering with Shell Chemicals to create bio-attributed and bio-circular polypropylene to meet the growing consumer demand for sustainable plastics.
Officials with Braskem said they have begun using bio-attributed and bio-circular propylene feedstocks from Shell that will allow the company to manufacture bio-attributed and bio-circular polypropylene, giving consumers more options when it comes to plastics used in packaging, film, automotive, and consumer goods markets.
“Braskem is a leader in the innovation and production of bio-based materials, and we continue to see demand grow for more renewable solutions in our market,” Mark Nikolich, vice president of olefins and polyolefins, Braskem North America, said. “With today’s announcement, we will continue to focus our work on sources of sustainable propylene, in this case, bio-attributed and bio-circular, to support our polypropylene clients in meeting their carbon reduction and circularity goals. Ultimately, we believe that these different renewable solutions are complementary and important steps forward as the plastics industry evolves to a more sustainable future.”
Shell will replace hydrocarbon feedstock with the bio-attributed and bio-circular feedstock in its propylene product, potentially reducing greenhouse gases and contributing to a more circular economy.
“Shell is proud to be working with Braskem to supply the bio-attributed and bio-circular feedstocks that go into the everyday products that support modern life. This deal further illustrates how Shell Chemicals is growing its portfolio of sustainable chemicals and, by using bio-attributed and bio-circular feedstocks, Shell is progressing its strategy to lower greenhouse gas emissions from its operations and to be a net-zero emissions energy business by 2050,” said Sean Clarry, Shell Chemicals’ senior vice president of commercial.
Braskem officials said the collaboration will help the company reach its commitment to reach carbon neutrality and advance circular economy goals by 2050.