Braskem donates 17 tons of resin for orthotics and prosthetics production

The production of a prosthetic device begins long before it reaches a patient. One of the first steps in the process is transforming plastic resin into sheets that serve as the foundation for custom-made equipment designed to restore mobility, independence, and quality of life for thousands of people. This is precisely where Braskem contributes. This year, the company will donate 17 tons of resin to AACD. The material will enable the manufacture of approximately 15,000 prosthetic and orthotic devices (external supports), benefiting around 10,000 patients through the institution's orthopedic workshops located across Brazil.

The partnership between Braskem and AACD began in 2015 and has already made it possible to manufacture more than 106,500 orthopedic devices. In 2023, the company started donating polypropylene directly, further strengthening the institution's capacity to serve patients. In 2025 alone, more than 10,700 patients benefited from equipment produced using the donated resin.

"Our partnership with AACD highlights the benefits that plastics bring to people's lives and promotes social inclusion, one of the most important pillars of our social responsibility strategy," said Gabriela Rehem, Institutional Relations Analyst at Braskem.

"Plastic is essential for producing orthopedic devices that deliver safety and durability, and the direct donation of resins ensures greater efficiency and reliability throughout the manufacturing process," Gabriela added.

Each year, AACD manufactures more than 60,000 orthopedic products at its five workshops located in São Paulo, Osasco, Porto Alegre, Uberlândia, and Recife. Approximately 85% of these products are provided to patients through Brazil's public healthcare system (SUS), generating no direct costs for patients and enabling the delivery of orthopedic devices to multiple regions across the country.

From Manufacturing to Mobility
Long before becoming orthotic and prosthetic devices, the resins donated to AACD are produced at Braskem's industrial facility in Triunfo, Rio Grande do Sul. After collection, the material is sent to a partner processor of AACD, which converts it into sheets used in the manufacture of orthopedic equipment.

These sheets are then delivered to the institution's workshops, where specialized teams carry out every stage of the process, from technical assessment and customized development to the production, fitting, and maintenance of orthotic and prosthetic devices.

"AACD operates five orthopedic workshops across Brazil that manufacture orthoses, prostheses, scoliosis braces, and other customized products. Through testing and adjustments whenever necessary, the institution supports each patient's journey toward greater independence and quality of life," said Ciro Pavarina, General Coordinator of AACD's Orthopedic Workshop.

From the donation of resin to the delivery of the finished devices, the initiative demonstrates how collaboration between industry and the third sector can expand access to rehabilitation. It helps ensure that patients assisted by Brazil's public healthcare system have access to customized equipment designed to meet their specific needs, regardless of where they live.

Picture: Braskem