Braskem , the largest polyolefins producer in the Americas, as well as a market leader and pioneer producer of biopolymers on an industrial scale cleaned up South Philadelphia’s FDR Park with the help of the Philadelphia Eagles. Covering 348 acres, FDR Park is South Philadelphia’s largest park and is located adjacent to Lincoln Financial Field, home of the Eagles. Braskem will also donate a new bench made from recycled items at Lincoln Financial Field, which includes plastic bottle caps, food service trays, and even stadium seats.
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“At Fairmount Park Conservancy, we are grateful when members of the community pitch in to show their love for Philadelphia’s parks. The Philadelphia Eagles and Braskem’s efforts in the gem of FDR Park are very much appreciated as both organizations are focused on sustainability. We hope other companies will follow their lead!” shared Maura McCarthy, Executive Director.
Braskem and the Eagles joined forces in September 2018, entering a nine-year sustainability-focused partnership. The partnership included the development of a closed-loop recycling program for bottle caps and other plastic products, as well as an education platform for 30 Philadelphia-area schools to teach students about Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) career opportunities to inspire the next generation of STEM leaders. This educational focus is the central pillar of the parties’ partnership around strengthening youth-focused STEM education.
“Braskem is excited to further strengthen our partnership with the Eagles and Fairmount Park Conservancy and support our local community by participating in a joint cleanup effort for FDR Park, one of Philadelphia’s most important public institutions and outdoor recreational spaces. Braskem, aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals for 2030, has made sustainable commitments to people and the planet. Two of these commitments center around eliminating plastic waste and helping to advance local development in the communities where Braskem operates. Seizing opportunities where we can make our community cleaner so it can be better enjoyed by its members coupled with strengthening relationships with organizations who can help us amplify this sort of impact are critically important to Braskem,” stated Geoff Inch, North America Sustainability Director, Braskem.
Since 2018, 60,000 pounds of plastic items, such as bottle caps, films, stadium seats, and food service trays, have been collected and recycled from the team’s facilities. The recycled plastic is then turned into new applications, such as park benches. In 2021, the Eagles and Braskem donated one of the recycled park benches (produced in Eagles team colors) to the William C. Longstreth School Playground Build. Plastics benefit our lives by preserving and protecting our beverages and food, making sports equipment lighter and safer, and light-weighting cars and planes to use less energy and fuel. Braskem supports recycling these products at the end of their life cycle so they can create a new life as post-recycled material to continue benefiting society.