Company will donate thermoplastic resins that will be transformed into 3 million masks to be given away
Donation of thermoplastic resins to produce masks and medical gowns; More than 60 million masks or 1 million coats can be produced;
Donation of food staples for three months to over 1,200 households that work in recycling;
50,000 families around its plants in Brazil will receive personal hygiene and cleaning products;
Support to the Alagoas government in setting up a field hospital;
Supply of raw materials for 3D printing at 8 research centers to produce hospital protection masks.
Braskem has joined hands with partners in the chemicals and plastic chain to donate essential materials for combating the latest coronavirus in public hospitals. The thermoplastic resin donated can produce over 60 million masks or more than 1 million medical gowns. Braskem also is donating material to make packaging for 750,000 liters of liquid and gel alcohol, and to make over 500,000 squeeze wash bottles (used in hospitals for gel alcohol), as well as 10,000 boxes of hypochlorite for dilution or use as bleach and over 150,000 plastic trash bags for medical waste. Braskem is also looking for ventilators in the international market to supply the public healthcare system. These items will benefit hospitals in the states of Alagoas, Bahia, Ceará, Pernambuco, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina and São Paulo. The joint effort, which involves clients and trade associations, has already engaged in 32 initiatives.
The donation of raw materials for making protective equipment and packaging has already surpassed 370 tons. These donations will be boosted further by partners in the petrochemical sector. Last week, Braskem already had announced an additional credit line of R$1 billion to primarily assist small and midsized businesses in the chain to weather the coming months of the crisis caused by the coronavirus.
"COVID-19 imposes a challenging situation on our society and we believe that unity is the essential part to overcome this moment. Our company has a clear purpose of improving people's lives and it couldn't be different now. Through partnerships with our value chain, who make up an important sector for the Brazilian economy and the country's development, we joined forces to deliver essential items for the public healthcare system and the communities," says Jorge Soto, Director of Sustainable Development at Braskem. We also work closely with business organizations, NGOs, universities and research centers. The moment is one of unity for us to work together in the fight against the coronavirus," he added.
One of the most significant initiatives is the donation of polypropylene, the raw material for producing TNT (nonwoven). The product will be manufactured by Fitesa and donated jointly with the company to be used in surgical masks and protective gowns, for instance.
Braskem's participation also involves the donation of equipment, food staples and cleaning kits for other initiatives.
In Maceió (AL), Braskem and its partner companies will help set up a field hospital at the Sesi Gymnasium facilities. The temporary hospital will focus on medical care for common illnesses. "The goal is to make sure that the city's public healthcare system is not overloaded and can take care of patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19," explained Soto.
The company will donate more than 50,000 cleaning kits directly to society, which include products such as disinfectants, detergent and soap, and will focus on households in Duque de Caxias (RJ); Salvador, Camaçari, Candeias, Dias D'Ávila and Simões Filho (BA); Maceió and Marechal Deodoro (AL); São Paulo, Santo André, Cubatão and Mauá (SP); Nova Santa Rita, Montenegro and Triunfo (RS). These are the locations where Braskem operates.
Over 100,000 gel alcohol squeeze bottles will also be donated to communities in the metropolitan region of São Paulo and the city of Duque de Caxias in Rio de Janeiro. The initiative also envisages the donation of food staples for three months to more than one thousand families of recyclable-material collectors in Alagoas, Bahia, São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Rio Grande do Sul.
In line with worldwide efforts to promote the use of 3D printing in the fight against COVID-19, Braskem will supply raw materials to eight research centers in Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande do Sul and São Paulo. "We believe in the potential for positive impact that 3D printing has, especially in cases such as this. This is already a field in which we operate and, therefore, we have specific resins for this purpose, which can help in the development of solutions," said Jorge Soto.
Along with Braskem and Fitesa, companies and institutions such as BrasALPLA, Plimax, Indústrias Reunidas Raymundo da Fonte, Companhia Nacional do Álcool, Raízen, Federation of Industries of the State of Bahia (FIEB) and Federation of Industries of the State of Alagoas (FIEA), Sugarcane Industry Association (UNICA), Senai (SP), Emplas, Newsul, Soroplast, Mauser, Ingleza, Alemolde, Raízes-Vibraço, Simperj, ABIHPEC, Cristal Embalagens, AZPlast, SR Embalagens, Epema, Unicamp, Plástico Itália, Grupo Chiaccio, 3D Criar and Projeto Higia are engaged in this initiative.
Health and safety of Braskem's team members in combating COVID-19
Braskem has also taken a series of preventive measures to ensure the health and safety of all team members. The company adopted remote working system (flex office) for employees in vulnerable groups or who work at offices. In its production line, Braskem is working with scaled down teams to ensure the safe continuity of its operations and has reinforced the guidelines of local health authorities.
Domestic and international business travel has been suspended, as well as the participation in person of team members in meetings and events. Furthermore, all employees with symptoms similar to those of COVID-19 are instructed to immediately notify Braskem's Health team.
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