Food processing and packaging company Tetra Pak has signed a supply agreement with petrochemical company Braskem for ‘I'm green’ low-density polyethylene (LDPE) made from sugarcane.
The Swedish packaging firm will use the green plastic as a protective component in the layers of its packaging manufactured in Brazil, starting 2014.
According to Braskem, Tetra Pak's conversion to green polyethylene will mean that 100% of its packaging produced in Brazil, or 13 billion packages, will be made with about 82% of its materials that are obtained from renewable resources.
Braskem will use ethanol derived from sugarcane to produce ethylene and will later on convert it into LDPE.
The polyethylene has similar technical properties as that of which is derived from fossil fuels and exhibits low environmental benefits of a material made from renewable resources.
Braskem CEO Carlos Fadigas said, "I'm greenTM polyethylene has the same characteristics as traditional polyethylene, such as being inert, resistant and recyclable, with the advantage of being made from renewable materials, which helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions by absorbing CO2 from the atmosphere during the sugarcane's growth phase."
The paper custody chain has been certified by the Forest Stewardship Council since 2008, which means that all paper used as raw material in Tetra Pak packaging comes from responsibly managed forests.
