The resin is used to pack the Nutrella Viva bread line, produced with sprouted grain flours, part of the company's Clean Label concept.
Sugarcane ethanol
Braskem’s green plastic is polyethylene made from sugarcane ethanol rather than fossil fuel.
The company claims its annual output of 200,000 kilotons of green plastic results in an 850,000 kiloton reduction in CO2. The bioplastic, while still a small part of its business, is now used by 150 eco-minded brands including Danone (for milk bottles), Grupo Bimbo (for Nutrella bread bags) and Lego (for toys).
The Nutrella Viva line bread products packed with Green Polyethylene is available across stores in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro in Brazil.
It is the first time Braskem has exhibited at Tokyo Pack to increase its portfolio in Japan. The company currently has two distributing partners in the country; Toyota Tsusho and Sojitz Pla-Net.
“Toyota Tsusho and Sojitz Pla-Net help us to introduce our products to the market, not only in Japan but Asia Pacific and Oceania as well,” said José Augusta Viveiro, sales & new business developer, Braskem.
Japan distributors
“Japan is playing a key role in terms of renewable materials. As we all know Japan used to incinerate its garbage but it is now focusing on recycling its materials.
“For us, Green PE is not only a bio-based materials that captures CO2 but allows industry to recycle the material as much as they want.”
Braskem renewed its long-term agreement with Sojitz Pla-Net last year and its agreement with Toyota Tsusho signed in 2010 is up for renewal this year.
"Toyota Tsusho supported the bio-based PE development project even when it was in the pilot plant phase at around 2007, and has played a significant role in market expansion in Asia for products from renewable sources," Luciano Guidolin, VP, Polyolefins, Comperj and Renewables Unit, Braskem, said at the time.
One of its customers in Japan is Asahi Soft Drinks, which uses the Green Polyethylene made by Braskem, on 1.5-liter bottle caps of Mitsuya Cider, thanks to its partner Toyota Tsusho.
