Braskem, a global petrochemical company that develops chemical and plastic solutions to improve people's lives, in partnership with 3M and MagSac Embalagens, announces a new packaging solution for 3M's 1100 and 1110 hearing protectors, developed with 50% post-consumer recycled (PCR) resin from the Wenew portfolio. The initiative maintains the packaging's quality, durability, and performance while delivering an estimated 24% reduction in carbon footprint compared to a virgin resin-based version.

The new solution leverages Wenew, Braskem's global ecosystem dedicated to advancing the circular economy, and is the first in its segment in Latin America to replace part of conventional plastic with post-consumer recycled material. "Projects like this demonstrate that it is possible to give plastic waste a new life and expand the use of recycled materials in everyday products. In addition, collaboration among different companies is essential to accelerate the circular economy and increase the positive impact of these initiatives," said Pier Pesce, Head of Cazoolo and Circular Economy Business Development Leader at Braskem.

And this initiative is only the beginning. "The solution creates a scalable platform for the global expansion of other products within the portfolio, enabling the annual use of approximately 180 metric tons of post-consumer recycled material," said Alessandra Bassotelli, Packaging Engineer at 3M and Sustainability Project Leader.

In addition to being the first flexible packaging solution in Latin America for this type of application containing 50% PCR content, the project promotes a scalable platform for global expansion, supports future applications across other product lines, and meets quality standards as well as market regulatory requirements. "For MagSac, this project represents a milestone in our journey of innovation in flexible packaging. Working with partners such as Braskem and 3M allowed us to overcome real technical challenges and deliver a solution that combines performance with environmental responsibility. We are proud to be part of an initiative that places Brazil at the forefront of post-consumer recycled material use in flexible packaging and paves the way for global expansion," said Oswaldo Delfin Nogueira, Director at MagSac.

The solution's feasibility was validated through technical testing and a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) conducted by 3M's packaging engineering team. The project is also aligned with Brazil's National Solid Waste Policy (PNRS), which establishes reverse logistics as an instrument for economic and social development. In addition, the initiative complies with international regulatory requirements aimed at increasing recycled content in packaging, including the European Union Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (EU PPWR) and California's SB-54 law, enacted in 2022, which focuses on improving packaging waste management.