Braskem has released updated Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs) for its I’m green™ bio-based materials, confirming significant negative carbon footprints and substantial environmental benefits over fossil-based alternatives.
Global biopolymer pioneer Braskem has announced the release of comprehensive, updated Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) studies for its I’m green™ bio-based product line, which includes HDPE, EVA, and PE WAX. The new data, which has been independently audited and critically reviewed, is a decisive step in reaffirming the company's long-standing commitment to transparency and environmental responsibility in the evolving global materials market.
The LCAs were conducted to the rigorous specifications of ISO 14040/44 and ISO 14071 standards, providing a detailed cradle-to-gate analysis of the environmental impacts of materials derived from responsibly sourced sugarcane ethanol. A key improvement in these updated studies is the reflection of enhanced methodologies, robust primary datasets spanning from 2020 to 2023, and the adoption of the latest scientific modeling, including the Environmental Footprint 3.1 method recommended by the European Commission.
The results provide clear, quantifiable evidence of the environmental advantages of Braskem’s bio-based materials, which are already used widely in packaging, footwear, sporting goods, cosmetics, and various industrial applications.
A significant highlight is the confirmed negative carbon footprint across all analyzed products. This demonstrates their crucial role in biogenic carbon uptake and climate change mitigation, actively removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
The updated LCAs reveal the following impressive net benefits in carbon footprint reduction when these bio-based products replace their fossil-based counterparts:
These figures solidify the materials' position as a powerful tool for manufacturers aiming to decarbonize their value chains and meet increasingly stringent sustainability targets.
Walmir Soller, Vice President for North America, Europe, and Asia, emphasized the importance of this release: “These updated LCAs are a testament to Braskem’s ongoing efforts to improve data quality, engage transparently with stakeholders, and drive sustainable innovation. By quantifying the environmental benefits of our bio-based products, we empower our customers to make informed, climate-conscious choices.”
With its bio-based ethylene plant in Triunfo, Brazil, Braskem continues to lead the global biopolymer market. Using these updated LCAs not only as a measure of success but as a transparent mechanism to drive continuous improvement in its product sustainability and support global efforts toward a circular and low-carbon economy.
