Braskem expands strategy for the future of renewable
chemicals
SÃO PAULO and BOSTON,
April 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --
Braskem (B3: BRKM3, BRKM5 and BRKM6; NYSE: BAK; LATIBEX: XBRK), the
largest thermoplastics resins producer in the Americas and the
worldwide leader in bio-polymers, announced today its expanded
focus on the research, development and commercialization of
chemicals and materials sourced from renewable feedstocks. Braskem
started a new operation in Boston
focused on leveraging groundbreaking developments in biotechnology
and advanced materials. The activities will include biotechnology
and material science R&D, business and market development as
well as technology scouting for key strategic partnerships.
Gustavo Sergi, Braskem Renewable
Chemicals Business Director, stated, "Renewable chemistry will lead
the next wave of development in chemicals and polymers. Our
announcement today reinforces Braskem's position at the forefront
of this movement. As we look forward, by developing and leading the
next wave of renewable chemicals and polymers, we are bringing our
customers new and innovative choices."
"The operation in Boston will
complement the metabolic engineering capabilities that we have in
our Renewable Chemistry Research Center in Campinas (Brazil) as
well as our material science competencies present in our R&D
centers in Triunfo (Brazil) and
Pittsburgh (USA). In addition, this location positions
Braskem in a strategic ecosystem that will enable us to leverage
key partnerships for research and market development," explains
Mateus Schreiner Garcez Lopes,
Braskem Head of Innovation in Renewable Technologies.
To lead the R&D initiatives in Boston the company has appointed Dr.
Daniel P. MacEachran as new Head of
Metabolic Engineering. Dr. MacEachran joins Braskem from Greenlight
Biosciences, Inc., a privately-held biotechnology company focused
on the sustainable production of chemicals, having most recently
served as Director of Applications Research & Development. He
also served as a Visiting Scientist and Post-Doctoral Researcher to
the Department of Biology at the Massachusetts
Institute of Technology.
ABOUT I'M GREEN™ POLYETHYLENE (PE)
Polyethylene is conventionally produced from fossil raw
materials such as oil or natural gas and is found in many everyday
products: food packaging, cosmetics, beverages, bags, among others.
Green plastic, also known as I'm green™ Polyethylene, is a plastic
made from a renewable and sustainably sourced raw material: ethanol
from Brazilian sugarcane. Green also means that Braskem's I'm
green™ PE plastic absorbs CO2 from the air and is
recyclable. This means that your cup of yogurt, bottle of shampoo
or bread packaging made from Green Plastic helps remove
CO2 from the atmosphere, reducing the impact of global
warming. The I'm green™ Polyethylene exhibits the same
characteristics as the traditional petrochemical-based
polyethylene, in application, performance, and especially in the
existing recycling collection chain. For more information about
Braskem's I'm green™ PE bio-based resin please visit:
www.braskem.com/greenplastic
ABOUT BLUEVISION
Braskem's Bluevision is a platform that shows the capacity of
the human being to actively and positively influence the course of
the planet through their actions and everyday lives. For more
information about Bluevision please visit:
www.bluevisionbraskem.com
ABOUT BRASKEM
With a human-oriented global vision of the future, Braskem
strives every day to improve people's lives by creating sustainable
solutions with chemicals and plastics. Braskem is the largest
producer of thermoplastic resins in the Americas and the leading
producer of biopolymers in the world, creating more
environmental-friendly, intelligent and sustainable solutions
through chemicals and plastics. Braskem exports to clients in
approximately 100 countries and operates 41 industrial units, which
are located in Brazil,
United States, Germany and Mexico, the latter in partnership with the
Mexican company Idesa. For more information, visit
www.braskem.com.
Braskem America is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of
Braskem S.A. headquartered in Philadelphia. The company is the leading
producer of polypropylene in the United
States, with six production plants located in Texas, Pennsylvania and West Virginia, and an Innovation and
Technology Center in Pittsburgh.
For more information, visit www.braskem.com/usa.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains projections and other
forward-looking statements (within the meaning of the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) regarding future
events. These statements reflect Braskem's current beliefs and
expectations with respect to Braskem's business, the economy and
other future conditions and are based on assumptions, subject to
risk and uncertainties, and are subject to change at any time.
Actual events or results may differ materially from those contained
in such forward-looking statements. Important factors that could
cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking
statements contained herein include, without limitation: (i) the
contraction or lack of growth in the market segments in which
Braskem competes and in which Braskem products are sold, (ii)
inability to anticipate future market trends and the future needs
of Braskem's customers, (iii) the impact of natural disasters on
Braskem's suppliers and (iv) other factors detailed in documents
Braskem files from time to time with the Securities and Exchange
Commission. Forward-looking statements in this release are
made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions contained in the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
Braskem on social
media:
www.facebook.com/BraskemSA
www.linkedin.com/company/braskem
www.twitter.com/BraskemSA
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