Braskem has entered into a joint-venture agreement with Thailand-based SCG Chemicals to produce bio-based polyethylene, Braskem said on Aug. 16. The move would double Braskem’s capacity to produce its bio-based I'm Green polyethylene.
Under the agreement, the companies would form Braskem Siam Company Ltd. and operate a new plant in Thailand that would manufacture the product using sugarcane-derived bio-ethylene.
The deal is subject to regulatory clearance and final approval by the partners.
The partners would produce the polyethylene using a the EtE EverGreen technology that Braskem developed with Lummus Technology. The process involves producing bio-ethylene from bio-ethanol dehydration.
Braskem sells I'm Green polyethylene for various products, including food packaging, personal and home care products, toys and plastic bags. The product is also recyclable, Braskem says.
The companies will focus on marketing the product to Asia, where demand is growing for sustainable plastics. Executives from both companies say the move aligns with their respective goals of producing 1 million tons of green products by 2030.
