Facility set to reach industrial scale in early 2025
11/26/2024
The Companhia Brasileira de Alumínio (CBA) is set to establish a plant dedicated to recycling flexible and carton packaging—commonly known as Tetra Pak—made of layers of paperboard, plastic, and aluminum, used for preserving food and beverages. Swedish multinational company Tetra Pak is the first partner to join this initiative.
Located within CBA’s facilities in the city of Alumínio, São Paulo, the project aims to reduce the disposal of aluminum and plastic, promoting greater sustainability in the sector. The unit is entering the commissioning phase and is expected to reach industrial scale in the first quarter of 2025, with the capacity to recycle up to 1.3 billion packages annually.
The company has not disclosed the investment amount but notes that the technology development is part of a R$243 million investment in recycling since CBA’s IPO in 2021. Named ReAl Technology (Recycling Aluminium), the company’s patented system claims to revolutionize the Brazilian recycling market. Previously, only the paper component of Tetra Pak packaging was easily recycled, while the laminated aluminum and plastic were either discarded or used in a limited capacity, without complete reintegration into the production cycle.
CBA CEO Luciano Alves explained that the project was conceived before the IPO and took several years to complete due to the technical complexity of separating the plastic and aluminum in carton packaging. “We decided to embark on this endeavor to increase production volume by recycling a product we currently do not recycle, generating less waste and social impact, and strengthening a collection network that heavily relies on recycling, creating a positive effect throughout the entire chain,” he said.
The plant aims to produce alumina, a substance extracted from bauxite, which will be converted into liquid aluminum in smelting rooms. Tetra Pak has not revealed its market share but has said it produces 17 billion packages annually for domestic consumption and export.
Tetra Pak CEO Marco Dorna pointed out that the recycling process in Brazil faces significant challenges related to selective collection and environmental awareness. Therefore, he considers the volume of equivalent packages recycled by the plant to be relevant at the start of operations. He noted that the company uses plant-based plastic, such as sugarcane, in its packaging, making about 90% of its composition renewable.
From an environmental perspective, the benefits are evident and align with the companies’ decarbonization goals. Economically, Tetra Pak has not yet set a price, as this will depend on the project’s progress throughout 2025.
CBA will be supplied by an existing scrap collection network in Brazil, composed of waste pickers, cooperatives, and traditional recyclers, in addition to paper mills that extract paper fibers for producing recycled items like books, notebooks, and bags. The remaining waste, consisting of plastic and aluminum, will then be sent to CBA’s facility.
Robson Rodrigues Supervised the reporting of Clarissa Freiberger.
*By Clarissa Freiberger* e Robson Rodrigues — São Paulo
Source: Valor International