Braskem's I'm greenTM PE and ProAmpac's Trinity Packaging Division Bring Carbon Reduction Packaging to Montgomery County DEP and Maryland Environmental Service

Braskem, the largest thermoplastics resins producer in the Americas and the leading producer of biopolymers in the world, announced today it has partnered with ProAmpac’s Trinity Packaging Division to use Braskem’s I’m green^TM polyethylene (PE) to help Maryland’s Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and Maryland Environmental Service (MES) to achieve their carbon reduction and environmental preservation objectives.

“I have made the commitment to improving the County’s environment a priority for my administration,” said County Executive Ike Leggett. “Adopting this more environmentally-responsible packaging product reflects this commitment, as well demonstrating the County’s embrace of the Governor’s Sustainable Materials Management Policy, which seeks ‘an updated and more holistic materials management approach. to ensure continuous environmental improvement.’ I commend the Department of Environmental Protection’s Division of Solid Waste Services for their leadership in achieving this important accomplishment.”

Maryland’s Montgomery County DEP, with the assistance of its contractor MES, led the initiative to find a carbon reduction packaging alternative for their composting program in order to support their core mission. As part of the County’s annual composting of leaves and grass, that would have otherwise been disposed of, MES converts the organic wastes into a valuable soil conditioner resource for sale under the registered Leafgro^® brand. Last year, MES sold approximately 650,000 bags of Leafgro^® in fossil fuel based polyethylene packaging. Under the leadership of Maryland’s Montgomery County DEP, in direct partnership with MES, Braskem and ProAmpac’s Trinity Packaging Division, Leafgro^® packaging will be converted to Braskem’s I’m green^TM sugarcane based bioplastic, a carbon negative product, that will help Montgomery County reduce its carbon footprint. The Leafgro^® brand soil conditioner in the new I’m green bioplastic packaging will be sold throughout the U.S. East coast in lawn and garden retail locations.

Joe Jankowski, Braskem Commercial Manager, commented, “With the visionary leadership of the Maryland Montgomery County DEP, they are serving as a role model for other communities around the nation in taking proactive action across their environmental footprint to reduce carbon impact. We are proud to bring Braskem’s I’m green^TM bioplastic to the County in order to replace the conventional oil-based packaging with an innovative bioplastic solution that aligns sustainable packaging with the environmental focus of the County and its residents.”

Maryland’s Montgomery County DEP compost facility contractor MES awarded the new Leafgro^® bioplastic bag contract to Trinity Packaging Corporation, a leading manufacturer of plastics products and a division of ProAmpac.

Roy McGrath, Director and CEO, Maryland Environmental Service, commented, “Maryland Environmental Service has always been a great steward of the environment, and we’re very proud of our Leafgro^® partnership with Montgomery County. Having our new Leafgro^® bags produced with a sugar-based bioplastic reinforces our mutual commitment to this stewardship. Our valued partnership with the County has again increased our ability to achieve important environmental objectives by producing the Leafgro^® product and its bags from a renewable source.”

Chris Jordan, Vice President of Sales for ProAmpac’s Trinity Packaging Division, states, “Producing this innovative heavy-duty bag underscores Trinity’s expertise in converting and UV printing for the lawn and garden market. We are proud to partner with Braskem and Montgomery County in their sustainability efforts.”

Braskem’s I’m green^TM Polyethylene (PE) is a bio-based resin made from ethanol, a renewable and sustainable resource produced from Brazilian sugarcane that is a drop-in substitute for conventional oil-based polyethylene. Cultivation of sugarcane utilizes carbon dioxide (CO₂) and releases oxygen (O₂), which means Braskem’s bioplastic has a negative carbon footprint. From a cradle-to-gate life-cycle perspective, every ton of I’m greenTM PE used in the production of packaging equates to 3.09 tons of CO₂ captured from the atmosphere.

To learn more about Leafgro^® and to find a retail location near you, please visit: www.menv.com/leafgro

To learn more about Maryland’s Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection and their conservation efforts please visit: http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/sws/facilities/cf/

ProAmpac’s Trinity Division, manufactures plastics products for a broad base of national customers within a variety of industries. Trinity has plant locations in Rocky Mount, VA and Buffalo, NY. To learn more about ProAmpac’s Trinity Division please visit www.trinitypackaging.com .

For more information about Braskem’s I’m Green Polyethylene (PE) bio-based resin please visit: www.braskem.com/imgreen

About Braskem

Braskem is one of the world’s leading plastics and chemical companies with 41 industrial plants in Brazil, the United States, Germany and Mexico. Braskem is the largest producer of thermoplastic resins in the Americas and the leading producer of biopolymers in the world, creating more environmental-friendly, intelligent and sustainable solutions through chemicals and plastics. Known for innovative solutions such as I’m green PolyethyleneT made from renewable sugarcane and UTEC®, the company’s own trademarked Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene for high performance applications, Braskem’s products and technologies enable the automotive, packaging, healthcare, and construction industries to produce goods that enhance quality of life for people around the world.

Braskem America is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Braskem S.A. headquartered in Philadelphia. The company is the leading producer of polypropylene in the United States, with six production plants located in Texas, Pennsylvania and West Virginia, and an Innovation and Technology Center in Pittsburgh.