With the "green economy" on companies' radar screens today, all economic sectors of are faced with the challenge of balancing competitiveness with sustainability. Plastic resins, such as polyethylene, polypropylene and PVC, have been important allies by replacing materials traditionally used in these sectors due to advantages such as increased durability, lighter weight, lower environmental impacts and productivity gains.

Construction and agriculture are industries that have been investing to ensure more sustainable development and meet the growing need for products that offer technical and environmental advantages. In this scenario, technology has supported the launch of new products, and plastic has emerged as a source of these new solutions.

"The portfolio of new product launches in recent years showcases the efforts of our Technology and Innovation Center to remain at the forefront of industry trends and identify intelligent solutions to the challenges our Clients face," said Luciano Guidolin, vice-president of Braskem's Polyolefins Unit.

Even products already used by these industries, such as PVC, have begun to gain new applications. In November, Global Housing, DuPont and Braskem signed an unprecedented partnership for the launch in Brazil of a new concept in residential and commercial construction projects based on PVC. Known as the "PVC Concrete House," the technology represents an innovative and rapid way to construct different types of buildings on an industrial scale. The system generates less construction debris and reduces waste generated by the use of materials such as wood, which is extensively used in the construction industry.

Other construction components now being made from PVC are roofing tiles. In addition to the technical advantages inherent to the resin, such as resistance to chemical agents, lightness and durability, PVC roofing tiles remain highly stable even when impacted by storms, hailstorms and harsh weather in general.

Like PVC, polypropylene is also being used as a building system. One example of this technology is Vale das Nuvens, a high-end hotel located in Guaramiranga that was completely built using the resin.

The case of "pallets"

For most people, wood is a sustainable raw material because it is obtained from nature, which makes it easily degradable. But wood is not always the most sustainable solution from the environmental and economic standpoints. A wood pallet weighs around 30 kilos and its useful life is relatively short and determined by the amount of use. Meanwhile, a polypropylene pallet weighs only 3 kilos and has the same capacity and much longer life cycle than a wood pallet. This means that a truck can carry a much higher number of plastic pallets, which provides tremendous savings in terms of fuel consumption and carbon monoxide emissions. This is one of the clearest examples of lower costs, higher productivity and reduced environmental impacts provided by solutions based on plastics.

Made from renewable resources

Recognized worldwide, Braskem's polyethylene made from sugarcane ethanol sequesters CO2 from the atmosphere during its production process, and also made its debut in the construction industry this year. The product is being used by Tigre, Brazil's largest manufacturer of plastic tubes, fittings and accessories, to make its new line of grates, which are known as the Tigre Ecological Grate. The resin has also been used since November 2011 in Afumex Green electrical cables manufactured by Prysmian.

Basic sanitation

Plastics are also being used to streamline and improve quality in basic sanitation works in Brazil. Maintenance holes (commonly known as sewers) made from polyethylene are being made using modern technology, which makes installation and maintenance tasks easier, while also being more economical and ecologically correct. One of the characteristics of manholes made from polyethylene is their durability, given their excellent resistance to pressure and impacts. This means they are less prone to fractures and ruptures that lead to leaks, which prevents the surrounding soil from contamination.

Agriculture

In the agricultural sector, one of the resources already widely used are agrofilms. These films allow farmers to reduce the proliferation of diseases and pests, control temperatures, better disseminate light and heat and control other weather variables. These plastic covers also protect the topsoil, helping to reduce applications of pesticides and fertilizers, inhibit the growth of weeds, prevent erosion and reduce the leaching of nutrients. All of these advantages translate into lower costs, higher yields and better quality products.

One of latest product launches in the Brazilian market is the silo bag, which solves the problem of the shortage of silos to store harvests. These are large bags made from polyethylene that can store up to 200 tons of grains, do not require any type of physical support structure and can be easily handled during the filling process.

Source: Braskem