Braskem invests R$67 million in recycling line with German technology
Braskem invests R$67 million in recycling line with German technology
December 10, 2020
Press Release: Braskem
Committed to a carbon-neutral circular economy, Braskem has announced an investment to expand its post-consumer resin (PCR) portfolio
In partnership with Valoren, a company specializing in developing and operating technologies for transforming solid waste, Braskem will invest R$67 million (US$12.9 million) in the construction of a recycling line with capacity to transform some 250 million pieces of packaging into 14,000 tons of high-quality, post-consumer resin per year. The project, which will be installed in Indaiatuba, in the interior region of São Paulo state, is expected to start operations in the fourth quarter of 2021.
Fabiana Quiroga, Braskem’s circular economy director for South America, explained that the technology is a powerful ally for leveraging recycling in Brazil and consequently the market for post-consumer polymers. “Waste recovery rates have been growing gradually over recent years, and we believe that, among the challenges the sector still faces, increasing the quality of PCR, which expands its potential applications, is key to driving this market’s development.”
The waste processed on the recycling line is mostly household, including rigid polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) materials, such as food, cleaning, hygiene and beauty product packaging. After processing, the material will be used to make high-quality PCR resin.
The recycling line is a modular complex formed by different phases of the process. Plastic waste input at the start of the process undergoes the phases of crushing, washing, extrusion and homogenization. The project arrangement is unprecedented, and the machinery features cutting-edge European technology complemented by local equipment.
The project’s differentials include a high-performance washing line with an optical selector for removing contaminants based on color and material type; homogenization silos; highly accurate systems for dosing additives and inputs; and a module for eliminating odors and high-performance polymer filtering, which improves the quality of the final PCR. The system also adopts best sustainability practices, which include treatments using recirculated water to optimize water and energy use. In addition, the project reinforces Braskem’s commitment to adopt best practices for controlling pellets, the form in which plastic resin is sold.
“The project not only represents technological and economic advances, but also environmental and social improvements by incorporating into the plant a new supply chain of materials that will increase the recycling of plastic waste and professionalize recyclers in Brazil,” commented Heinz-Peter Elstrodt, chairman of the board of Valoren.
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