This is the second part of the article on reverse packaging logistics with a focus on the beverage sector. In the first part, in addition to a general context regarding the development of reverse packaging logistics, operations involving returnable containers were also dealt with in more detail. In case you missed the first part of the article, click here. The second part will address operations involving recyclable products, such as aluminum cans.
As mentioned in part 1, Reverse Logistics has been growing in recent years in order to meet ecological, economic and competitiveness goals, recapturing the value of waste that was once discarded. In Brazil, the main entity at the forefront of the implementation of reverse logistics is Coalizão Embalagens, a group that has the participation of about 12 Brazilian Associations and Organizations, with more than 3.500 associated companies. Among the accomplishments published by the organization regarding its reverse logistics development plan are the installation of more than 2 Voluntary Delivery Points (PEVs) and the 21,3% reduction in the volume of packaging disposed of in landfills.
One of the factors responsible for the reduction of this volume is the progress in recycling. According to Abralatas – Brazilian Association of Aluminum Can Manufacturers (2019), the aluminum can recycling rate reaches up to 98%. This is largely due to the high cost involved in aluminum production, which encourages the reuse of the material. If compared to PET, which has a lower production cost, according to data from the Brazilian Association of the PET Industry - ABIPET (2020) the material recycling rate reached about 55% in 2019, 43% less than the aluminum, but which still represented a growth of 12% compared to the previous year. In order to continue to evolve in this regard, one of the crucial points is the support to organizations and cooperatives of collectors.
The collectors are part of a very important link in the cycle of reverse packaging logistics, as they are one of the main agents responsible for the return of recyclable materials to the industry. However, the sector coexists with high rates of informality and has few incentives for them to carry out their tasks with quality and safety. For this reason, the industry must also provide technical and institutional support to cooperatives of collectors of recyclable materials, which is one of the actions carried out by the Coalition. Supporting more than 800 organizations of collectors across the country, the entity has drawn up an extensive plan to adapt and expand the productive capacity of cooperatives and associations of collectors, counting on the feasibility of actions for the acquisition of machinery and equipment, as well as for the training of collectors, making their tasks more efficient.
Another important factor for the advancement of recycling is the dissemination of awareness campaigns on the correct disposal of packaging among consumers. In the context of the beverage sector, ABIR – Brazilian Association of the Soft Drinks and Non-Alcoholic Beverages Industry signed in April 2022 a new agreement with the Ministry of the Environment on the conscious disposal of packaging. According to data from the association, approximately one third of solid urban waste produced in the country is recyclable packaging. However, not all of them can be recovered by companies. Based on this, the association developed an awareness campaign so that consumers make a habit to separate their waste and dispose of it correctly, facilitating the reverse flow of packaging after consumption.
In addition to raising consumer awareness and structuring the reverse logistics system, with the support of waste picker organizations and the installation of Voluntary Delivery Points, it is also important for companies to commit to reducing waste and reusing materials. Among some examples of large companies treading this path we can mention Coca Cola. According to Victor Bicca Neto (2021), director of government relations at Coca Cola Brasil and current president of ABIR, the company has made a global commitment to, by 2030, collect and recycle the equivalent in weight of everything the company puts on the market, mitigating its environmental impact.
To conclude, it is possible to say that recycling in the beverage sector still needs to advance in Brazil. As much as the recycling rate for aluminum cans reaches high values, the same does not occur for other types of recyclable packaging. Their rates, however, are growing as the reverse logistics system is structured and the work carried out by collectors and cooperatives is supported and valued by the industry. Added to this, running consumer awareness campaigns is also important for the reverse flow to be more efficient. Finally, it is necessary to count on the commitment of large companies in the sector with the reduction of waste and its respective environmental impacts. As a result of these factors, it will be possible to observe an increase in the recycling rate of more recyclable packaging and the growth of more sustainable operations, increasingly reducing the amount of waste produced by the sector.
References:
– Packaging Coalition – Coalition Embalagens (coalizaoembalagens.com.br)
– ABIR – Brazilian Association of Soft Drinks and Non-Alcoholic Beverages – Revista_Abir_2021-web.pdf
– SINIR – National Information System on Solid Waste Management – SINIR+ | National Information System on Solid Waste Management
– BIPET – Brazilian Association of the PET Industry – Recycling - ABIPET
– Abralatas – Brazilian Association of Aluminum Can Manufacturers – Abralatas
