Brazil and their sustainability journey: insights into selective recycling

Did you know #Brazil is the fourth largest producer of plastic waste in the world with only 1% of it being effectively recycled (out of the 23% being put forward for recycling by consumers) and the first plastic marine polluter in South America? Yet, it is among the world's leaders in recycling aluminium cans (98.7% in 2020).

So why is that?

Brazil's sustainability ambitions won't cut it... just yet

Brazil is a major global player in biodiversity, water resources, and carbon storage, but faces significant challenges in managing its environmental footprint, particularly when it comes to plastic pollution, recycling, and Amazon deforestation.

In 2020, Brazil produced 6.67 million tonnes of plastic with around 2.95 million tonnes being single-use.

While end users are concerned about plastic pollution (a 2024 WWF-Brazil survey revealed that 85% of Brazilians support rules to reduce global plastic production), the low plastic recycling rate can be attributed to inadequate waste management made available to the general public.

--> A staggering 62% of Brazilian municipalities lack collection systems for recyclable waste

--> An estimated 6.4% of municipalities have official recycling programmes in place.

It is no wonder that 70% of the country population do not separate their recyclable materials properly.

At a country level, the Government has committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030 (compared to 2005 levels), aiming for climate neutrality by 2050 – so let’s hope we can expect substantial infrastructural changes happening in the coming years.

The Amazon is critical for global climate stability, biodiversity, and water cycles. Brazil contains over 12% of the world’s freshwater resources and is home to nearly 170,000 identified plant and animal species. Conversely, deforestation and land-use change have been Brazil’s largest source of greenhouse gas emissions since the early 1990s. The government’s renewed anti-deforestation efforts are expected to further reduce emissions, though record drought and wildfires remain challenges.

Aluminium recycling, a well-oiled machine

So where do the sheer recycling rates of aluminium cans come from?

·       Aluminium has a greater market value than plastic, which means that collecting and recycling aluminium cans is a lot more profitable for waste collectors and recycling companies.

·       Recycling aluminium uses 95% less energy than producing new aluminium from scratch, making it highly cost effective for drinks producers (especially given the high energy costs in the country).

·       The country (both private and Government led initiatives) has heavily invested in aluminium recycling infrastructures over the years along with strong incentivisation programmes in place.

Currently, the aluminium recycling process operates as a closed loop with cans often returning to shelves in as little as 30 days.

If this model cannot be reproduced for plastic recycling, alternative biodegradable options are certainly the way forward…

Thought-provoking local campaign

Brazilian Biotech company @OKA (who produce innovative 100% biodegradable, compostable packaging made of yuca starch) reminds us in its latest high-impact campaign of the staggering effects of microplastic on the human body. On average, we inject 30g of plastic weekly (25kg in a lifetime!). With their 3D-print objects made of plastic collected in 1,000 discarded bags of blood, they remind us that there are better, more sustainable alternatives available.