By Equipe de Redação
Posted in October 28, 2024
(Leticia Jensen – Vice President of Packaging and Specialty Plastics for Dow Latin America
Tércio Borlenghi Junior – CEO Ambipar).
São Paulo – October 29, 2024 – Dow, a leader in materials science, and Ambipar, a global leader in environmental solutions, today announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to explore innovative business opportunities that enhance the value of post-consumer plastic waste by transforming it into new products in the Latin America region. This partnership aims to create an effective platform for plastic recycling and to boost the waste management system in Brazil.
The partnership seeks to establish an efficient recycling platform by combining Ambipar’s capacity for collecting plastic waste with Dow’s materials science and application development expertise. The companies intend to provide circular solutions for packaging manufacturers, brands, and consumers, strengthening the circular economy in Brazil and the region.
With the MoU, the companies aim to combine their business intelligence to capture plastic materials from post-consumer sources, such as municipal solid waste, and transform them into products that incorporate plastic material to meet the growing demand for circular solutions. By 2030, Dow and Ambipar aspire to lead polyethylene recycling in Brazil, increasing operations from 2,000 tons to 60,000 tons per year. The partnership will facilitate business expansion by reinforcing integration across the value chain to drive the circular economy for plastics.
The preliminary assessment involves a phased approach over the next five years to build new Mechanical Recycling facilities using the most efficient technology, transforming 80,000 tons of plastic waste into approximately 60,000 tons of post-consumer resin (PCR) per year. This progression seeks long-term success, which will serve as a model for advanced recycling processes and technologies.
The memorandum includes plans to develop a detailed financial model for end-to-end mechanical recycling, considering all aspects, from the costs and logistics of waste to the incorporation of recycled content into plastic materials. This will support the evaluation of the development capacity of the recycled product, ensuring the use of the most effective technology to meet the growing market demand.
“This partnership marks a significant step toward a sustainable business model in Brazil, where post-consumer plastic waste is transformed into valuable resources, driving the circular economy in our region,” says Leticia Jensen, Vice President of Packaging and Specialty Plastics for Dow Latin America. “By leveraging our combined expertise, we intend to transform Brazil’s recycling market, enhancing the value of plastic waste and converting it into high-quality products. Today, with Ambipar, we are setting new standards for the industry,” Jensen concludes.
Transforming Waste into Opportunities
Tércio Borlenghi Junior, CEO of Ambipar, highlights the positive impact of the partnership on the market and the environment. “We are setting a new standard for circular business in Brazil, significantly reducing carbon emissions in the industry. With this alliance, in addition to leading plastic recycling, we will strengthen waste picker cooperatives and reduce improper disposal in landfills and oceans,” says Borlenghi.
This alliance is set to develop the first integrated center for the circular economy of polyethylene plastics in Brazil, focusing on transforming post-consumer waste into new products, establishing a precedent for circular business models in the region and at scale.
“The collaboration with Ambipar is a testament to our commitment to a sustainable business model and how we can work together as a materials ecosystem, partnering for the first time with a waste management leader to drive polyethylene recycling in Brazil and create an established circular economy for plastic waste,” shares Sabine Rossi, Director of Sustainability for Packaging and Specialty Plastics at Dow Latin America.
Rafael Tello, Vice President of Sustainability at Ambipar, emphasizes the synergy between the companies. “This partnership is more than a business agreement; it is a convergence of values and a commitment to a more circular future. By combining our environmental management expertise with Dow’s materials science competence, we will not only transform waste into resources but also redefine how society perceives the circular economy and the environment.”
About Ambipar
Ambipar is a Brazilian multinational and a global leader in environmental solutions, investing in and operating decarbonization, circular economy, energy transition, and environmental regeneration projects. It is present in 40 countries across six continents and employs over 20,000 people.
To learn more, visit: ambipar.com/a-ambipar/.
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About Dow
Dow (NYSE: DOW) is a leading global materials science company, serving customers in high-growth markets such as packaging, infrastructure, mobility, and consumer applications. Our global reach, integration, and scale of assets, along with our focused innovation, market leadership, and commitment to sustainability enable us to achieve profitable growth and contribute to building a sustainable future. We operate manufacturing sites in 31 countries and employ approximately 35,900 people. In 2023, the company delivered approximately $45 billion in sales. References to “Dow” and/or “the Company” refer to Dow Inc. and its subsidiaries. Learn more about us and our ambition to be the most innovative, customer-centric, inclusive, and sustainable materials science company in the world at www.dow.com.
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