Neste and Braskem: A Partnership for a Greener Future

Neste, a Finnish firm that specializes in the production of renewable fuels, has announced an agreement with Braskem, a Brazilian-based multinational petrochemical company. The aim of this partnership is to accelerate the development of sustainable plastics and chemicals in South America. Neste will provide Braskem with Neste RE, a renewable and recycled feedstock solution. Under this deal, the latter will manufacture and sell sustainable products under the Wenew brand by the end of 2024. It goes hand in hand with an increased global focus on industries producing more sustainably produced petrochemicals and plastics, especially with processes still being fossil fuel-based, and relying so much on resources than really necessary. With this dual agreement, the companies are looking towards creating a supply chain which not only would live to the highest expectations of an industry but advances the ideals of a better circular economy for South America. Neste RE: Renewable and Recycled Feedstocks for Sustainable Production by In the production process, Neste RE is a dual-component feedstock which helps reduce both waste plastic and greenhouse gas emissions. It is constituted by mainly two feedstocks: chemically recycled plastic waste and renewable sources which include used cooking oil. This helps Braskem produce products that are not dependent so much on fossil fuels and have a minimal footprint in the environment. The chemically recycled element of Neste RE are plastics. Chemical recycling breaks plastics down into their chemical constituent, which can then be used to make new materials. This is important since it allows for the processing of waste streams that the mechanical recycling cannot handle for example mixed or contaminated plastics. In the renewable feedstock part of this RE, derived from renewable resources, offers an added advantage. They have lower production emission since they are derived from renewable materials instead of using virgin fossil feedstocks. In the process, there will be no carbon footprint produced as in the use of virgin fossil feedstocks, and renewable feedstocks become a good alternative in alignment with the industry's reduction efforts toward carbon. Production, Certification, and Compliance with Health Regulations Products derived from Neste RE feedstocks from Braskem will be expected to meet Brazil's regulatory requirements. Examples of such requirements are the country's health agency, ANVISA. ANVISA has certified that the chemical recycling-based product complies with health regulations, thus recently removing this requirement for special approval. This should allow it to be applied in further ranges, such as to food packaging applications. In other words, the certification is set to play a very influential role in making sure these sustainable feedstocks meet every industry standard from the cradle to the grave and all along the production value chain. This will have the effect of enabling Braskem to audit and check every stage of manufacture against sustainability standards, further reassuring customers of the environmentally friendly benefits within the commodities they purchase. Braskem seeks to trace from source to finished products and track materials as part of its supply chain to build transparency and responsibility. The collaboration had adverse environmental and economic impacts. The alliance between Neste and Braskem aids in reducing the environmental footprint but shows a paradigm shift in how the petrochemical industry can procure raw materials. Conventional plastics and chemicals mainly rely on virgin fossil feedstocks taken from non-renewable reserves that carry massive carbon footprints. Incorporating recycled and renewable sources really helps Braskem minimize such finite resources and contribute even more to a more sustainable and circular economy. Another will be chemical recycling, where this initiative will reduce the ever-increasing plastic wastes. The traditional recycling is not helpful because not all plastics can be treated through them. Chemical recycling, on the other hand, breaks down different varieties of waste plastics into different usable raw materials, stretching the life of these resources and lessening the amount that ends up in the landfills or incinerators. The environmental benefits are pretty significant, yet there are also economic incentives to adopt sustainable practices. Companies worldwide are increasingly being held to certain standards of sustainability by consumers and regulatory bodies alike. This partnership positions Braskem and Neste to take advantage of that demand by offering certified sustainably produced products. Moreover, savings from lesser dependence on fossil fuels and enhanced waste management can also render such sustainable alternatives more economical in the long term. Role of Neste RE in the Wenew Brand by Braskem Products produced from Neste RE feedstocks will be marketed in the region by Braskem under the Wenew brand. Wenew is part of a larger effort by Braskem to assist in making progress toward a circular economy and SDGs. It will be used by customers and businesses who are environment-conscious and are looking for a sustainable alternative for their packaging, construction, automobile, and other applications. Advancing a Circular Economy in South America The partnership between Neste and Braskem is testament to the prospect for sustainability in South America-a continent, like most, is facing waste management and environmental pressures. In their pursuit of a steady renewable and recycled feedstock, the companies hope that their practice will inspire others and thereby spur a circular economy approach throughout the continent. This is also showing an upward trend in petrochemicals along with sustainability feedstock sourcing. Through the use of renewable resources and recycling of material, the industry can get support from companies in lowering its ecological footprint and meeting more environment-friendly products with standards of new regulatory and consumers' demand in the market. Peak for Petrochemicals The braskem/Neste agreement now sets a precedence in South America for the petrochemical industry as a whole, placing emphasis on environmental accountability and product quality in sustainable production. Therefore, these types of partnerships will be critical in building the infrastructures and supply chains for the carbon-neutral future ahead. Introducing Neste RE feedstocks will help Braskem attain its products' sustainability targets but will also encourage greater transparency and accountability in the production chain. The cooperation stands for a considerable step forward in the achievement of sustainability for high-emitting industries, with the overall promotion of principles of the circular economy. Source: Neste