What is I'm green™ Polyethylene?
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 raw material: ethanol from Brazilian sugarcane. The I'm green™ Polyethylene exhibits the same characteristics as the petrochemical polyethylene, in application, performance, and especially recycling.
What is a bioplastic or biopolymer?
Accordingly with European Bioplastics Association definition, plastics produced from renewable sources and/or biodegradable plastics are classified as bioplastics or biopolymers. Thus, I'm green™ Polyethylene made from sugarcane ethanol is considered a bioplastic. I'm green™ Polyethylene is not biodegradable.
Learn more at: www.european-bioplastics.org
Is it possible to verify the difference between I'm green™ Polyethylene and petrochemical polyethylene?
I'm green™ Polyethylene made from sugarcane ethanol has the same physical properties as conventional polyethylene, made from fossil raw material. It is impossible to detect the difference between the two plastics by visual analysis, since both are the same regarding color, appearance and texture. Analysis by C-14 carbon dating is the only way to differentiate the two products, attesting to renewable sources of I'm green™ Polyethylene, since it shows younger carbon atoms in its composition.
In which applications can I'm green™ Polyethylene be used? Which grades are available?
I'm green™ Polyethylene is a versatile plastic and can be present in various day-to-day products. Through I'm green™ Polyethylene; it is possible to produce materials by using the same processing processes as conventional Plastics: injection and blow molding; blown film, cast film, fiber, and wire & cable extrusion.
Currently, there are 17 I'm green™ Polyethylene grades available, distributed among families of HDPE (high density polyethylene) and LLDPE (linear low density polyethylene). For more details on the portfolio of grades available for Green PE, consult the product catalog. To broaden the application possibilities of using I'm green™ Polyethylene, Braskem is continually working with partners to develop new grade formulations.
How is the substitution of conventional polyethylene for I'm green™ Polyethylene made in transformers?
The mechanical properties and processing characteristics of the I'm green™ Polyethylene are identical to those of petrochemical resins. This means that the use of I'm green™ Polyethylene does not require investments in new machines and should not result in any difference in process parameters, when it is a "drop-in" substitution.
What is the difference between the use of ethanol and the use of fossil raw materials, such as oil and natural gas?
Being a renewable feedstock, sugarcane captures and fixes CO2 from the atmosphere every growth cycle, which occurs annually. This means that the production of I'm greenTM Polyethylene contributes to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions when compared to conventional polyethylene, made from fossil materials. As a result the carbon footprint of I'm greenTM Polyethylene is negative, when considering a "cradle to gate analysis).
How is green plastic produced?
At Braskem's plant, sugarcane ethanol is received from suppliers and undergoes a dehydration process where it is transformed into green ethylene, the monomer that feeds the polymerization plants where the I'm green™ Polyethylene is produced. The sugarcane plastic then goes to third-generation companies (i.e., manufacturers or converters), which transform it into plastic products. From 2007, the company developed and is improving the production technology of green ethylene and I'm green™ Polyethylene from ethanol.
What is the production capacity of the I'm green™ Polyethylene plant? Where is it located? What grades does it produce?
The Green Ethylene plant is located in the Triunfo Petrochemical Complex, in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, in the southern region of Brazil. Its inauguration occurred in September 2010, when it was the first time that I'm green™ Polyethylene was manufactured on an industrial scale. The plant's capacity is 200 kton/year and the total investment amounts to US$290 million.
Is green PE biodegradable and/or can it be used in compost?
No, it is not biodegradable or compostable. Like resins made from petrochemicals, I'm green™ Polyethylene is a recyclable material and in fact can be recycled normally using the processes in use today. Since I'm green™ Polyethylene is not biodegradable, the CO2 captured during the sugarcane cultivation process (from sugarcane growth until its production) remains sequestered during the plastic's entire life cycle.
What is renewable content? How can the renewable content of I'm green™ Polyethylene be validated?
Renewable content is the amount of renewable originated carbon expressed as a percentage of total mass of material or product. For example, 90% renewable content means that 90 grams per 100 grams of material is from a renewable raw material.
The validation of the percentage of renewable content is carried out using the dating of the carbon isotope C14 in the product, the same process used for verification of age of fossils in archeology. This analysis is standardized by ASTM D6866 and can be performed for both I'm green™ Polyethylene and for end products such as packaging and plastic bags.
Braskem performs the C14 analysis of I'm green™ Polyethylene in the Beta Analytic lab (www.radiocarbon.com). The renewable content of I'm green™ Polyethylene was also recently certified by the institute Vinçotte
What is I'm green™?
I'm green™ is the brand created by Braskem that identifies the products in its portfolio produced from renewable sources. To identify products that have I'm green™ Polyethylene in its composition, and to help the consumers to recognize them, Braskem created the I'm green™ seal.. For use of the I'm green™ seal, products must follow certain criteria established by Braskem..
How many tons of I'm green™ Polyethylene are produced by a hectare of sugarcane? How much of Brazil's arable land is required for production?
To produce 200,000 tons of I'm green™ Polyethylene, corresponding to the volume of total production capacity, it takes approximately 65,000 hectares of sugarcane, which represents approximately 0.02% of the total arable land of Brazil.
This calculation is done considering the average productivity of sugarcane plantations and mills of ethanol production in Brazil. In one hectare, approximately 82.5 tons of sugarcane is produced, which can produce 7,200 liters of ethanol. With this volume of ethanol, Braskem produces 3 tons of green ethylene, generating about 3 tons of I'm green™ Polyethylene.
How are areas for sugarcane cultivation selected? Where is it currently grown?
About 90%* of the sugarcane plantation used in Brazilian ethanol production is concentrated in the South-Central region of Brazil, mainly in the states of São Paulo, Goiás, Minas Gerais, Mato Grosso do Sul, Paraná and Mato Grosso. The remaining 10% of sugarcane is mainly concentrated in the Northeast region of Brazil. The South Central region is located more than 2,500 km away from the Amazon region. The expansion of areas used to plant sugarcane is governed by Sugarcane Agroecological Zoning, approved in September 2009, and excludes among other areas, the Amazon and Pantanal biomes.
It's important to note that Braskem does not own any sugarcane plantations. The ethanol used to make I'm green™ Polyethylene is purchased from different suppliers that are selected accordingly with the Code of Conduct for Ethanol Suppliers, which takes into account aspects related to compliance with Brazilian Law and respect for biodiversity.
*Source: Sugarcane Industry Association (UNICA): http://unica.com.br/
What is the Sugarcane Agroecological Zoning (ZAE Cana)?
The Sugarcane Agroecological Zoning is a study of the climate and soils of Brazil's various regions that innovated by taking into account the environmental, economic and social aspects in order to coordinate the sustainable expansion of sugarcane cultivation and of investments in the sector. The set of restrictions related to the environment, economy, society, weather risks and soil conditions conducted by ZAE Cana limit the expansion of sugarcane cultivation to 7.5% of Brazil's landmass (65.7 million hectares). The proposal submitted by ZAE Cana was approved on September 17, 2009.
Is the use of pesticides and fungicides a regular practice on sugarcane plantations?
The main diseases that threaten the plants are treated using biological controls and genetic improvement programs. This way, the use of pesticides on sugarcane plantations in Brazil is low and the use of fungicides is practically nonexistent
What is sugarcane bagasse?
Bagasse is a co-product of sugar and ethanol production. Rich in cellulose, bagasse is used to fuel boilers and generate energy to replace the use of gas or other non-renewable energy source. This energy fuels the plant itself that becomes self-sufficient in energy, and when there is surplus, it is sent to the local power grid and sold to supply cities.
Why are burning practices held in the sugarcane cultivation? When is the deadline for this to end?
The burning of sugarcane, which is performed before manual harvesting, aims to make the activity of cutting sugarcane safer by burning its straw. However, the practice of burning causes serious impacts on public health and on the environment. Eliminating the burning of sugarcane is necessary to implement a system of mechanized harvesting.
The deadline for the end of the burning is provided in Brazilian law. Additionally, in 2007 the Protocolo Agroindustrial do Estado de São Paulo (Agroindustrial Protocol of the State of São Paulo) was voluntarily launched, which set more restrictive targets than the law. The mills signing this protocol commit to the anticipation of the deadlines to quit burning in legislation. In mechanized areas, the term is from 2014 to 2021, while in areas considered non-mechanized by current technology, the deadline is 2017 to 2031 .
In 2009, over 95% of all ethanol produced in the state of São Paulo, the largest Brazilian producer state, was produced in mills that signed the Protocol.
Is green plastic made using genetically modified sugarcane
Genetically modified sugarcane is not sold in Brazil. The CTNBio is a multidisciplinary group formed to support Brazil's federal government in formulating, reviewing and implementing national policies related to safety issues involving genetically modified organisms (GMOs). In its website (http://www.ctnbio.gov.br/index.php) it is possible to research which types of GMOs are approved for commercial cultivation in Brazil, which are currently restricted to cotton, corn and soybean only. All of the ethanol consumed to make I'm green™ Polyethylene is cultivated in Brazil.
Does the growing consumption of sugarcane ethanol for I'm green™ Polyethylene production have any impact on food production?
Today Brazil has 330 million* hectares of arable land, of which 52% is used for raising cattle, 26% remains idle and 22% is used for agriculture. Only 1.4%* of all arable land in Brazil is dedicated to ethanol production, and the consumption of ethanol for the production of I'm green™ Polyethylene represents about 1.7% of the total production of ethanol, or 0.02% of Brazil's arable land.
The existence of available land, combined with a possible intensification of livestock production, makes Brazil a country with room for expansion of agriculture. The use of land for the production of products other than food, even in a very optimistic scenario for the growth of the production of chemicals from renewable sources, should continue representing a small percentage of the total land available.
Specifically in relation to the management of land for the sugarcane production, in the state of São Paulo, where 60%* of the country's sugarcane is planted, legumes are used to fix nitrogen in the soil during crop rotation. Hence 15% to 20% of sugarcane producing areas are dedicated to the cultivation of soybean, beans and peanuts, supplying the food market. For more details go to the website of the Sugarcane Industry Association (UNICA) at www.unica.com.br
*Sources: IBGE, Conab and UNICA. Data compiled by ICONE and Unica.
Does sugarcane cultivation use rainwater or artificial irrigation methods?
Sugarcane in Brazil is practically not irrigated. Water needs, in the agricultural phase, are resolved naturally by the rainfall of the producing regions, mainly the Center-South of Brazil, and is complemented by the application of vinasse, a co-product of ethanol production that is rich in water and organic nutrients, in a process called fertigation.
Is sugarcane cultivated in a socially responsible manner?
Sugarcane cultivation is conducted in accordance with Brazilian law and the rules and labor conditions established by the International Labor Organization (ILO) that should be followed by all employers, which are subject to regular inspections by the government. Braskem has a Code of Conduct for Ethanol Suppliers that is part of the "National Commitment to Social Assistance" program, which ascribes new rights to workers and ensures them a better quality of life.
What is the total ethanol consumption by Braskem's I'm green™ Polyethylene production?
To produce 200 kton per year of I'm green™ Polyethylene, corresponding to the total production capacity, approximately 460 million liters of ethanol are needed, which represents around 1.8% of Brazil's ethanol production.
What is Braskem's Code of Conduct for Ethanol Suppliers?
In order to reiterate its commitment to the principles of sustainable development and manage its relationship with the Chain of Ethanol, Braskem developed the Code of Conduct for Ethanol Suppliers.
Its basic principle is continuous improvement and respect for the laws of Brazil inspired by best practices outlined in the Environmental Protocol of the State of São Paulo, the Global Pact and the National Commitment to Improve Working Conditions in Sugarcane. To become a supplier of Braskem, an ethanol producer should observe the commitment to good business practices defined in this document regarding cane burning, respect for biodiversity, environmental practices, human rights and labor and availability of info to the life cycle analysis of the product. Braskem conducts audits at supplier plants to ensure compliance with the practices described in the Code of Conduct for Ethanol Suppliers.
How much is the renewable content of I'm green™ Polyethylene?
Each grade of the I'm green™ Polyethylene has a different renewable content due to their specific formulations. High density polyethylenes (HDPE) have, in accordance with the Vinçotte certification, at least 96% renewable content. Linear low density polyethylenes (LLDPE), according to the same certification, have a minimum of 89% renewable content. This difference is due to the greater presence of fossil co-monomers in LLDPE, as butene and hexene which are not from a renewable raw material.