Space Zoo Patrol – Future Materials
By Fabio Lamon, Director of Product Development and Advanced Materials, Braskem
- What is the name of the technology?
Our future technology is polyethylene plastic that is made from the renewable resource sugarcane. We named it I’m Green™.
- What does it do?
Just like regular polyethylene plastic (based on petroleum) , I’m Green is widely used in products for consumer goods packaging such as food and beverages, personal and home care products, toys, trash cans, and plastic bags.
- How does it work?
The I’m Green™ bio-based products are made from a renewable source, the ethanol sugarcane. When sugarcane grows, part of its makeup is ethanol. Grinding (or crushing) the plant releases the ethanol. A chemical process turns the ethanol into plastic feedstock. Our feedstock is the same as regular plastic so plastic companies can “drop-in” the I’m Green™ bio-based product to their production lines without requiring investment in new plastics-converting machines. Our portfolio features approximately 40 grades in the HDPE (high density polyethylene), LDPE (low density polyethylene) and LLDPE (linear low-density polyethylene) families. The I’m Green™ bio-based polyethylene can be used in rigid and flexible applications already used in the market.
- How is it better than the older technology?
America uses 3-4% of its oil to make plastics. By using the I’m Green™ bio-based renewable alternative to polyethylene, plastic companies rely on sugarcane which absorbs CO2 as it grows, which helps the environment.
When it reaches the end of its useful life, the I’m Green™ bio-based polyethylene can be recycled just like conventional polyethylene.
- What classes should I take in school to work on this?
All Science, Technology, Engineering and Math related classes will put you in the right path. Most of the professional involved in the invention of this technology have background in Chemistry, Materials Science, Physics, Biomaterials, Bioplastics and Engineering.
- Pictures
Growing sugarcane
Grinding sugarcane to release ethanol
I’m Green feedstock (from ethanol)
