PHILADELPHIA, PA — Braskem (NYSE: BAK) and Balsam Hill® have announced a collaboration that brings a new kind of holiday cheer: the world’s first Christmas trees made with plant-based plastic. The partnership marks a milestone in sustainable product design, combining renewable materials with the realism and durability for which Balsam Hill is known.
The innovation uses Braskem’s I’m green™ bio-based polyethylene (PE), a plastic derived from sugarcane rather than fossil fuels. Each tree features needles made with 95% bio-based carbon content—verified through C14 testing—offering the same lifelike appearance and feel as traditional artificial trees, but with a smaller environmental footprint.
Balsam Hill introduced its first fully plant-based tree, the Aspen Silver Fir™, several years ago, and for the 2025 holiday season has expanded the use of bio-based materials across its popular models, including the Alpine Balsam Fir and Calistoga Ornament Tree. The initiative is part of the company’s broader reNEW™ commitment to incorporate recycled and renewable materials into future product lines.
“After 20 years of category leadership in the design and manufacture of reusable artificial Christmas trees, this collaboration with Braskem allows us to find new ways to offer customers options that are beautiful and durable, innovative and sustainable,” said Mac Harman, CEO of Balsam Hill. “We’re proud to lead the way in integrating sustainable materials into holiday traditions in surprising ways that have meaning to the customer and the planet.”
For Braskem, the partnership highlights the growing potential of plant-based polymers in consumer products. “We’re proud to celebrate the 15th anniversary of our I’m green™ bio-based PE by collaborating with Balsam Hill to innovate with the planet in mind and bring more sustainable choices to consumers during the holiday season,” said Walmir Soller, Vice President for North America, Europe, and Asia (NAMEA) and CEO of Braskem BV. “Made from sugarcane and fully recyclable, our I’m green™ bio-based portfolio reflects our commitment to lower carbon emissions, circularity, and innovation in the plastics industry.”
As consumers increasingly look for eco-conscious alternatives, this collaboration signals a new chapter in sustainable seasonal décor—one where technology, design, and tradition converge to make holiday celebrations a little greener.
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