The $87 million investment increased the capacity of the plant by 30%, which now operates at a rate of 260,000 t/y (up from 200,000 before the expansion). Braskem's bio-based ethylene is made from sustainably sourced, sugarcane-based ethanol which removes CO₂ from the atmosphere and stores it in products for daily use.

The initiative is an important advance in the company's ambition to increase the production of biopolymers to 1 million t by 2030, and to become carbon neutral by 2050.

"The expansion of bio-based ethylene capacity reinforces Braskem's commitment to sustainable development and innovation and proves the success of the strategy we engaged in thirteen years ago, when we launched the world's first bio-based polyethylene production at industrial scale, with proprietary technology. We want to meet society's and customers' demand for products with less impact on the environment," explained Walmir Soller, Vice President of Braskem's Olefins and Polyolefins unit for Europe and Asia.

Each ton of plastic resin made from renewable feedstock represents the removal of 3 t of CO₂ from the atmosphere, the Brazilian polyolefins producer said. Since the plant's beginning in 2010, more than 1.2 million t of bio-based polyethylene have been produced. According to Braskem, who claims to be the world leader in the production of biopolymers, the recent increase in production capacity will remove approximately 185,000 t of CO₂ equivalent per year.