In order to help clients, brand owners and design professionals in all sectors to find solutions to the challenges of plastic packaging, Braskem has launched its own development methodology to help companies achieve their 2025 and 2030 sustainability commitments. This unique tool was developed for an open support service to the entire supply chain, by expanding deliveries to the circular economy packaging.

The methodology is based on the Design for Environment (DfE) concept, aimed at improving the environmental impact of packaging, creating a new way of conceiving these projects, from format selection and composition of material to definition of circular paths, consumer engagement and product end-of-life solution. The intended goal is to ensure this packaging follows the circular economy model and contributes towards driving solutions for the reuse, refill and recycling process, reducing environmental impact and generating value for the entire chain. 

The differential in the company's proposal is the use of a multidisciplinary and systems process focused on the challenges faced by each client, which goes through pre-set and well-defined phases: mapping of impacts, such as using the Life Cycle Assessment tool (LCA) and assessment of product journey, including circular paths; research to understand consumption trends and social behavior; definition of general application; design, manufacture and, finally, product launch.

In addition to this new methodology is all the expertise that Braskem has in circular economy and thermoplastic resins, accumulated over the years in servicing the market focused on innovation and sustainability. The company has a team dedicated to identifying and solving application challenges for the most varied clients, providing high performance solutions to meet the needs of different segments.

"Considering that up to 80% of the environmental impact is set in the design phase, we believe it is essential that we help our partners and clients in creating more circular solutions that will help them achieve their sustainability goals for the coming years. This is the main focus of Braskem's own methodology for developing more sustainable packaging" says Américo Bartilotti, Director of Packaging and Consumer Goods Business at Braskem.

Braskem Circular Economy director for South America, Fabiana Quiroga, believes this new methodology is fertile ground for future innovations in the packaging sector. "Circular economy is a commitment undertaken by the company through which all our internal initiatives are considered. Offering this Design for Environment support service to our partners makes the links of the plastics chain stronger as a whole and promotes this economic model as a tangible and feasible concept to all players."

Braskem's exclusive practices for circular packaging development are the result of more than one year's research and application of the Design for Environment (DfE) concept on different fronts. One of them is Braskem Design Challenge, a program in which the company's partners are invited to present an actual challenge so that designers, whether students or newly graduated professionals, develop an idea for solving that challenge using concepts such as Circular Economy, Design for Environment and Life Cycle Assessment. Braskem and the invited partner provide mentoring and guidance to those selected.

In addition to this initiative, there is a second model for applying this methodology, called Packaging Day. During this event, Braskem and a partner interested in the methodology discuss and develop a more circular packaging. To that extent, the company's multidisciplinary team leads the process - a specialist in circular economy, in Life Cycle Assessment, application engineers, designers and illustrators - professionals necessary for achieving the best result and applying the methodology in its entirety.

Since the methodology's implementation in 2019, Braskem has developed projects with Colgate-Palmolive, Kimberly Clark, Grupo Boticário and BRF.

To learn more about this methodology for creating the Braskem circular packaging, visit: www.braskem.com.br/embalagenscirculares or send an email to: packaging@braskem.com .