As demand for “green” ethylene continues to grow, Brazil’s Braskem (São Paulo; www.braskem.com), the largest polyolefins producer in the Americas, has signed an agreement with US engineering contractor Lummus Technology (Houston, Texas; www.LummusTechnology.com) to support the worldwide use of bioethanol in plastics production.

Collaboration between technology partners is key to achieving a circular economy for plastics, the Brazilian group said, noting that the pact with Lummus will bring together complementary knowledge and skills to shorten the timeline and extend the geographic reach of bioplastics technology.

Combining the experience and expertise of Lummus and Braskem to produce green ethylene will reduce the plastics sector’s carbon footprint and play a promising role in the energy transition, the companies added.

Each of the future cooperation partners possess extensive know-how in the field. Braskem, which touts itself as a pioneer supplier of renewable raw materials for bio-based plastics as well as producing the resin, recently said it aims to make 1 mn t/y of its I’m Green-branded PE by 2030.

In September 2021, the Brazilian player said it was studying plans to cooperate with Thailand’s SCG Chemicals (Bangkok; www.scgchemicals.com/en) on a bio-ethanol dehydration plant for production of bio-based ethylene and PE (see Plasteurope.com of 22.09.2021).

Lummus claims to have licensed about 40% of the global PE production processes currently used, an asset the contractor said gives it both the technical capability and the licensing expertise to further develop the market for renewable polymers.

The deal with Braskem is expected to allow Lummus to provide the technology to customers worldwide. Together, the two will expand the world’s production of low carbon chemicals and biopolymers from renewable feedstocks, helping customers decarbonise their assets and produce greener products, Lummus president and CEO Leon de Bruyn said.