NOT CURRENT YEAR

Grade D+

ChemScore report card 2022

Braskem

Headquartered in São Paulo, Brazil, Braskem is the largest petrochemical company in Latin America. It is the largest producer of thermoplastic resins in the Americas and the world’s largest producer of biopolymers. It has industrial units and offices throughout the Americas, including five polypropylene plants in the United States. The company produces a range of chemicals such as ethylene, polymer and chemical grade propylene, as well as fuels such as gasoline and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).

Total score

12 / 48

Grade summary

Braskem gets a D+ in ChemScore 2022, scoring one point less than last year. The company produces nine hazardous substances with no apparent plans to phase them out. Only about a quarter of Braskem’s production is sold to the EU and US markets, where public information is available, but the company offers transparency on their chemical production through the so-called “Braskem Valuation Book”. Braskem has developed its own sustainability index for innovation and technology projects, and performs raw material hazard assessments that involve identifying potential substances of concern. The company also sells sustainable products, incorporating aspects such as circular economy, as well as bio-based and recycled materials. Braskem has been involved in numerous controversies over the last ten years, ranging everywhere from environmental pollution and societal damage to bribery.

How did we come to this score?

Opportunities for improvement

Market sustainable products and safer alternatives
Braskem develops sustainable products and receives a point for this. The company does not, however, advertise these on independent third-party platforms such as ChemSec’s Marketplace, which is a great place for buyers and suppliers to find and market safer chemical alternatives. Sustainable products and safer alternatives are important not only for environmental reasons, but also in light of future regulation and growing consumer demand. Braskem should work to market its sustainable products more actively.
Prevent further controversies
Braskem has been involved in incidents leading to fatalities or liabilities of over 10 million USD and should re-design or dramatically improve its Environment, Health and Safety strategy. This would help the company to better avoid incidents and make sure that controls – functioning even when human errors occur – are in place. If an accident or spill should happen, it is important that Braskem identifies the cause and publishes a document on strategies that will be implemented to avoid similar occurrences in the future. It is possible to prevent human suffering and environmental pollution when producing chemicals, but it requires a thorough Environment, Health and Safety system.
Increase transparency
Braskem should further develop its “Braskem Valuation Book”, which offers transparency on the company’s chemical production, so that single hazardous substances and their volumes can be seen. Today it offers some transparency, but more is needed since it would allow for better understanding regarding the societal, environmental and financial risks connected to the production of harmful chemicals.