Braskem joined the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) to research a development route for ethylene, a raw material used in the production of thermoplastic resins, applying capture technology and use of carbon dioxide (CO2) emitted in industrial processes.

The project is in the initial stage of development and Braskem will have the mission of combining its know-how in the commercialization of raw materials and production of polymers with the theme to scale the technology, contributing to the validation of theoretical and experimental studies, produced by the university.

"Reducing carbon emissions is a fundamental premise for combating climate change, a commitment that is part of our macro-objectives for sustainable development. The objective of the partnership with the University of Illinois in Chicago, is to evaluate the possibility of capturing and converting the CO2 emitted in our industrial operation to make it a raw material in our polymer production processes ", says Luiz Alberto Falcon, responsible for Braskem's recycling platform.

According to a study by the International Energy Agency, the global chemical industry emits approximately 1.5 billion tons of CO2 annually from the use of energy in addition to its industrial processes. Initial estimates of the technology's potential indicate that if all of this gas were converted and recovered, more than 300 million tons of chemicals or resins would be generated, such as those produced by Braskem. In addition, the use of renewable energy in the process is key to reducing the carbon footprint and improving the attractiveness of technology from an economic and environmental perspective.

Braskem announced, in November this year, the expansion of its efforts to become a carbon neutral company by 2050.