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Circular economy tackles pet market waste problem
More than 8 million tons of plastic end up in the oceans each year, according to the environmental organization WWF, so how about helping to reduce plastic waste in the environment?
Keeping an eye on the waste generated by plastic packaging of pet food (feed bags), Dow, a leader in materials science, Nestlé Purina, a leader in the market for safe animal feeds, and the Fundación Avina, an civil society organization focused on facing social challenges in Latin America, created the Pegada Limpa project.
The proposal is to encourage the creation of a pet food packaging recycling chain, enhancing the conversion of 300 tons of circular plastic and positively impacting the income of approximately 5,000 collectors in Brazil and Argentina.
The concern gains strength along with the numbers in the pet market. According to the Brazilian Association of the Pet Products Industry (Abinpet), the Brazilian pet market had revenues of around R$ 40 billion in 2020, which represents a growth of 13.5% compared to 2019. Brazil has about 141.6 million pets, including 55.1 million dogs and 24.7 million cats, according to a survey conducted in 2019 by Instituto Pet Brasil.
In Argentina, according to the Chamber of Pet Products (Capem), the pet market earned around US$ 2.3 billion in 2020, an increase of 25% compared to 2019. The same research shows that the population of these animals is around 10.8 million, including 7.3 million dogs and 3.5 million cats. Maximum cuteness! But there is also waste generated by the packaging of food for these pets.
For this reason, the Pegada Limpa project seeks, in practice, to close the cycle of recycling these packages. The initiative should accelerate circularity, as it develops and implements solutions that act on the main challenges of each phase of the chain: from the development of 100% recyclable and/or reusable packaging, to encouraging the correct disposal of packaging by consumers, and the incorporation of post-consumer plastic (PCR) into new products.
The impact of the project also contributes directly to the development of new solutions and even more advanced technologies, generating new opportunities for recyclers. The Pegada Limpa project is funded by the Dow Foundation, which invests US$500,000 through the Business Impact Fund.
“By investing in the best technologies and collaborating with converters and brand owners, we are innovating to make the circular economy a reality. This project will make it possible to increase the value of waste, enabling a new industrial ecosystem to grow, where the collectors will benefit, while reducing waste, everyone wins”, emphasized Marcus Carvalho, Leader of Innovation and Value Chain for Packaging in Latin America from Dow.
How does the Pegada Limpa practice work?
It all starts with Nestlé Purina working on the development of its packaging so that they are 100% recyclable and/or reusable, it goes through the work to make consumers aware of the correct disposal of packaging and encourage selective collection through recycling cooperatives; and, finally, it reaches the stage of incorporating PCR resins (post-consumer plastic) into new products.
According to Eric Zeller, Business Executive Officer of Nestlé Purina in Brazil, the company aims, with the Pegada Limpa project, to convert pet food packaging waste into valuable materials, promoting packaging [circularity](https://movimentocircular.io/en/educacao] at retail outlets. “In addition to a reliable brand, we are committed to making all packaging 100% recyclable by 2025, which is only possible with the active participation of all agents in the chain, including our consumers”, he reinforced.
How do collectors benefit from this?
To achieve the transformation from a linear to a circular economy, the companies work together with cooperatives of recyclers under the coordination of Fundación Avina, focusing on generating value for a new stream of waste from these packages. This is what Luis Miguel Artieda, regional coordinator for inclusive recycling at the organization, defends: “A project like this has enormous potential for transforming lives that goes beyond the environmental impact. It allows us to fulfill the mission of recovering and recycling waste that is currently being lost, to integrate cooperatives of basic recyclers and to contribute to improving their quality of life”.
Fundación Avina also explains that the project brings together different players in the chain to innovate and generate demand for packaging for pet food. This new demand should generate more opportunities for recyclers to practice their trade and thus support their families. “A real transformation from the linear to the circular economy is not possible without the involvement of the whole society, with Pegada Limpa we work to achieve this goal”, adds Luis Miguel.
What is Circular Economy?
The Circular Economy proposes a new look at our way of producing, consuming, and disposing, in order to optimize the planet's resources and generate less and less waste. In other words, an alternative model to the Linear Economy - to extract, produce, use and discard - which has proved to be increasingly unsustainable throughout history. In the Circular Economy, the goal is to keep materials in circulation longer by reusing them until nothing becomes waste! For this model to become a reality, we all have a role to play. It is a true collaborative circle, which feeds itself, and helps to regenerate the planet and our relations.
Learn about Circular Economy
If you are interested in learning more about this topic, visit Circular Academy , the first free Latin American course on circular economy aimed at general audiences. All of us, in partnership and collaboration, can make a difference in building a more circular planet.
In the same subject:
Brazilian carnival brings reflection on waste pickers and Circular Economy
In Olinda, Pernambuco, where one of the largest street Carnival parties in the world takes place, waste pickers play a fundamental role in cleaning the city and in the logistics of the festival.
Kwa mujibu wa shirika la uhifadhi wa mazingira la WWF, zaidi ya tani milioni nane za plastiki huishia baharini kila mwaka, kwa hivyo vipi kuhusu kusaidia kupunguza taka za plastiki katika mazingira? Kwa kuzingatia taka zinazotokana na ufungaji wa plastiki wa chakula cha wanyama wa kufugwa (mifuko ya chakula), Dow, kiongozi katika sayansi ya vifaa, Nestlé, kiongozi katika soko la chakula salama cha wanyama, na Fundación Avina, shirika la jamii ya kiraia lililolenga kukabiliana na changamoto za kijamii katika Amerika ya Kusini, waliunda mradi wa Pegada Limpa. Mpango huo unakusudia kuchochea kuundwa kwa mlolongo wa kuchakata vifurushi vya chakula cha wanyama wa kufugwa, kuongeza ubadilishaji wa tani 300 za plastiki ya mviringo na kuathiri vizuri mapato ya wakusanyaji wa karibu 5,000 nchini Brazil na Argentina. Hangaiko hilo hupata nguvu pamoja na idadi katika soko la wanyama-vipenzi. Kulingana na Chama cha Brazili cha Viwanda vya Bidhaa za Wanyama wa Pazi (Abinpet), soko la wanyama wa pets la Brazil lilikuwa na mapato ya karibu R $ 40 bilioni mnamo 2020, ambayo inawakilisha ukuaji wa 13.5% ikilinganishwa na 2019. Brazil ina wanyama wapatao milioni 141,6 wakiwemo mbwa milioni 55.1 na paka milioni 24.7, kulingana na utafiti uliofanywa na Instituto Pet Brasil. Kulingana na Chama cha Bidhaa za Wanyama wa Pazi (CAPEM), soko la wanyama wa pets lilipata karibu dola bilioni 2.3 mnamo 2020, ongezeko la 25% ikilinganishwa na 2019. Utafiti huo unaonyesha idadi ya wanyama hao ni milioni 10.8, ikiwa ni pamoja na mbwa milioni 7.3 na paka milioni 3.5. Urembo wa juu zaidi! Lakini pia kuna taka inayotokana na ufungaji wa chakula cha wanyama hao wa kufugwa. Kwa sababu hii, mradi wa Pegada Limpa unatafuta, kwa vitendo, kufunga mzunguko wa kuchakata vifurushi hivi. """Kichwa cha mpango huu ni kuharakisha mzunguko, kwani huendeleza na kutekeleza suluhisho ambazo zinafanya kazi kwa changamoto kuu za kila hatua ya mlolongo: kutoka kwa maendeleo ya vifurushi vya 100% vinavyoweza kurejeshwa na au kutumiwa tena, kwa kuhamasisha kutupwa kwa usahihi kwa vifurushi na watumiaji, na kuingizwa kwa plastiki ya baada ya watumiaji katika bidhaa mpya." Uathiri wa mradi pia huchangia moja kwa moja katika maendeleo ya ufumbuzi mpya na hata teknolojia za hali ya juu zaidi, na kuzalisha fursa mpya kwa wauzaji wa taka. Mradi wa Pegida Limpa unafadhiliwa na Dow Foundation, ambayo inawekeza dola za Marekani 500,000 kupitia Mfuko wa Athari za Biashara. <unk>Kwa kuwekeza katika teknolojia bora na kushirikiana na watengenezaji na wamiliki wa chapa, tunafanya ubunifu ili kufanya uchumi wa mviringo uwe ukweli. "Lakini mradi huu utawezesha kuongeza thamani ya taka, kuwezesha mfumo mpya wa viwanda kukua, ambapo wakusanyaji watapata faida, wakati wa kupunguza taka, kila mtu anashinda, ""alisisitiza Marcus Carvalho, Kiongozi wa Ubunifu na Mfumo wa Thamani kwa Ufungaji katika Amerika ya Kusini kutoka Dow." Mazoezi ya Pegada Limpa hufanyaje kazi? "Kila kitu huanza na Nestlé Purina kufanya kazi juu ya maendeleo ya vifurushi vyake ili waweze kuchakata 100% na au kutumiwa tena, kupitia kazi ya kuwafanya watumiaji wajue kuondoa vifurushi kwa usahihi na kuhamasisha ukusanyaji wa kuchagua kupitia vyama vya kuchakata; na, hatimaye, inafikia hatua ya kuingiza resini za PCR (plastik ya baada ya watumiaji) katika bidhaa mpya. """ "Kulingana na Eric Zeller, Mkurugenzi Mtendaji wa Biashara wa Nestlé Purina nchini Brazil, kampuni hiyo inakusudia, na mradi wa ""Pegada Limpa,"" kugeuza taka za ufungaji wa chakula cha wanyama wa kufugwa kuwa vifaa vyenye thamani, kukuza ufungaji wa mzunguko katika maduka ya rejareja." "Kwa kuongezea chapa ya kuaminika, tumejitolea kufanya ufungaji wote uweze kuchakata 100% ifikapo 2025, ambayo inawezekana tu kwa ushiriki wa kazi wa mawakala wote katika mlolongo, pamoja na watumiaji wetu. """ Wanakusanyaji wananufaikaje kutokana na hilo? Ili kufanikisha mabadiliko kutoka kwa uchumi wa mstari hadi mzunguko, kampuni hizo zinafanya kazi pamoja na vyama vya usindikaji chini ya uratibu wa Fundación Avina, na kuzingatia kuzalisha thamani kwa mkondo mpya wa taka kutoka kwa vifurushi hivi. "Leo, Luis Miguel Arceeda, mratibu wa mkoa wa urekebishaji wa umoja katika shirika hilo, alisema: ""Mradi kama huu una uwezo mkubwa wa kubadilisha maisha ambayo yanazidi athari za mazingira." Inatuwezesha kutimiza utume wa kurudisha na kuchakata taka ambazo kwa sasa zinapotea, kuunganisha vyama vya ushirika wa watengenezaji wa msingi na kuchangia kuboresha ubora wa maisha yao. Avina pia anaelezea kwamba mradi huo unaleta pamoja wachezaji tofauti katika mlolongo wa uvumbuzi na kuzalisha mahitaji ya ufungaji wa chakula cha wanyama wa kufugwa. Mahitaji haya mapya yanapaswa kuzalisha fursa zaidi kwa wauzaji wa vitu vilivyotumika katika biashara yao na hivyo kuitegemeza familia zao. "Mabadiliko halisi kutoka kwa uchumi wa mstari hadi uchumi wa mviringo haiwezekani bila ushiriki wa jamii nzima, na Pegada Limpa tunafanya kazi kufikia lengo hili", anaongeza Luis Miguel. Uchumi wa Mzunguko ni nini? Uchumi wa mviringo unapendekeza mtazamo mpya wa njia yetu ya kuzalisha, kutumia, na kuondoa, ili kuboresha rasilimali za sayari na kuzalisha taka kidogo na kidogo. Kwa maneno mengine, mfano mbadala wa Uchumi wa Linear - kuchimba, kuzalisha, kutumia na kutupa - ambayo imethibitika kuwa isiyoweza kudumu zaidi na zaidi katika historia. Katika Uchumi wa Mzunguko, lengo ni kuweka vifaa katika mzunguko kwa muda mrefu kwa kuzitumia tena mpaka hakuna kitu kinakuwa taka! Ili mfano huu uwe halisi, sisi sote tuna jukumu la kucheza. Ni mzunguko wa kweli wa ushirikiano, ambao unajipa chakula, na husaidia kurejesha sayari na mahusiano yetu. Ikiwa una nia ya kujifunza zaidi juu ya mada hii, tembelea Chuo cha Mzunguko, kozi ya kwanza ya bure ya Amerika ya Kusini juu ya uchumi wa mviringo iliyoelekezwa kwa watazamaji wa jumla. """Sisi sote, kwa ushirikiano na ushirikiano, tunaweza kufanya tofauti katika kujenga sayari ya mviringo zaidi." Karneval ya Brazil inatoa tafakari juu ya wakusanyaji wa taka na Uchumi wa Mzunguko: Katika Olinda, Pernambuco, ambapo moja ya vyama vikubwa vya Karneval ya mitaani ulimwenguni hufanyika, wakusanyaji wa taka wana jukumu la msingi katika kusafisha jiji na katika vifaa vya tamasha.