JBS recycled 6,000 tons of plastic in 2024
Recycled resin gains new life in sustainable products, such as plastic bags, reels, tarpaulins, protective packaging, pallets, furniture, tiles and flooring.
Ambiental, a JBS business unit specializing in solid waste management, has reached the historic milestone of 6,000 tons of plastic recycled in just one year. In over 10 years of operation, Ambiental has been responsible for recycling more than 46,000 tons of plastic waste. This volume would fill the equivalent of more than 18 Olympic-sized swimming pools of waste that did not end up in landfills.
Another milestone achieved by the company was the record volume in the production of recycled resin, which registered a growth of 12% compared to 2023, totaling 4.1 thousand tons of raw material. This material was used in the manufacture of sustainable products, such as plastic bags, coils, tarpaulins, protective packaging, pallets, resins, furniture, tiles and flooring, contributing to the reduction of the use of natural resources and strengthening the circular economy model of plastic.
According to Thuany Taves, director of Ambiental, since 2017 the business unit has been investing in adding value to the recycling of plastic waste and, between 2023 and 2024, there was a need to expand the market reach, beyond JBS business units, and advance in circular economy projects. "Since the creation of Ambiental , the company has moved from waste management to also advancing in the recycling of plastic waste and its conversion into raw material and products", she explains.
Much of the plastic recycled by Ambiental (80% of the total volume) comes from the operations of JBS business units, such as Friboi, Seara, Swift, Couros and Novos Negócios, and generates new products to serve the Company's own businesses and the market. Of the total plastic material recycled in the last 12 months, 66% was destined for industrial inputs and 34% for plastic products.
In addition to plastic, Ambiental manages other recyclable waste, such as paper, glass and metal, and non-recyclable waste, such as light bulbs and batteries. In 2024, approximately 30 thousand tons of recyclable waste were disposed of correctly. In these services, the Company works on everything from identifying and separating waste to transferring it to specific recycling companies, as well as control, indicator management, storage and brand de-identification.
Today, Ambiental operates 23 units in Brazil, focusing on the management and treatment of recyclable and non-recyclable post-industrial solid waste, in addition to post-consumer waste from agribusiness. The units are located in Goiás, Minas Gerais, Mato Grosso do Sul, São Paulo and Paraná. Each one functions as a collection point, with the function of treating materials, such as separation, classification and shredding. All collected and treated waste is transferred to the headquarters in Lins, in the interior of São Paulo, where it is transformed into resins and other plastic products.
In addition to recycling and waste management, Ambiental also develops customized solutions for various types of plastics, in partnership with other companies. According to Thuany, large companies are looking for partners that can offer recycling and waste management solutions. "The National Solid Waste Policy, which regulated waste management and defined goals to be met, and consumer demands began to move the market. However, in recent years, the implementation of ESG practices and the application of the circular economy have mobilized companies to seek strategic partners, such as Ambiental", she explains.
One of the solutions developed was the Sustainable Big Bag, which was created to solve a common problem in agribusiness: the disposal of big bags – bags used to store and transport agricultural inputs - that were previously sent to landfills. The solution came about through a partnership between Ambiental , Cibra and Infinity. The process begins on farms, where the fertilizer big bags are collected by Infinity. These materials are sent to Ambiental, which transforms them into resin through washing, shredding and extrusion. This recycled resin is used to manufacture new big bags, maintaining the closed cycle of reuse.
For the cotton production chain, Ambiental, Cotton Wrap and Infinity have developed the first baling film in Brazil with post-consumer recycled resins. This means that plastics used in the field itself gain a new life, transforming into a resistant and sustainable material to protect the cotton fiber from harvest to destination. The process includes collection, recycling and transformation without compromising quality, protecting the cotton and optimizing the harvest. In addition, Cotton Wrap PCR is compatible with the main harvesters, ensuring speed, durability and efficiency.
The director of Ambiental explains that partnerships with agribusiness companies were established to implement circular economy projects and transform waste from the field, more specifically post-consumer waste, into recycled raw material. "Today we have equipment, technologies, innovations, experience and teams prepared to transform waste that presents high recycling complexity into new products for our partners", she explains.
Other solutions are developed and marketed by Ambiental itself. One example is the 'green floor', launched in 2021, as one of the most innovative destinations for hard-to-recycle plastic. After two years of study, the company launched an interlocking floor suitable for outdoor environments made from the plastic used in vacuum-packed natural products. The green floor meets the standards of ABNT (Brazilian Association of Technical Standards) and offers the same resistance as a material made 100% of concrete. The product is certified with the ABNT Ecological Seal of Environmental Quality.
AFS is a leading supplier of custom dry seasoning solutions and Sokol is a renowned producer of c...
From March 4–6, more than 2,000 companies will showcase their latest products and services ...
In the summer of 2023, a demonstration NestBorn Egg Placing Machine was placed into operation by ...
