Opening

Coca-Cola: Inauguration of the first recycled PET plant in Chile

2024-09-02 2:49 min Sustainability & Circular Economy, America

Coca-Cola Embonor S.A. Las Condes, Santiago, Chile

With the participation of the Minister of Economy, Nicolás Grau, and more than 400 attendees, including government authorities, mayors, companies and representatives from the world of sustainability, the inauguration and opening ceremony of Re-Ciclar, the beverage bottle recycling plant, was held, which for the first time in Chile will allow the production of these containers with recycled food-grade material.

With an investment of 35 million dollars, this modern factory operated in partnership by Coca-Cola Andina and Coca-Cola embonor, contributes to reducing the circulation of new plastic and strengthening the circular economy with a capacity to recycle more than 350 million bottles. Re-Ciclar also creates new jobs at its facilities and will generate 25 thousand indirect jobs throughout the country, positively impacting sustainable development.

The plant, which is already fully operational, is a pioneer in the use of sustainable technologies, combining state-of-the-art equipment imported from Italy, Japan and Austria. It is also powered by solar energy through photovoltaic panels, while 80% of the water used in the production process is treated and then reused to irrigate gardens. The cranes, powered by lithium batteries, are 100% electric and contribute significantly to reducing the carbon footprint. This plant stands out as a pioneer in the use of sustainable technologies.

The Minister of Economy, Nicolás Grau, hailed the inauguration of Re-Ciclar as an environmental milestone for the country. "This plant combines, from the point of view of our government, the set of elements that we really need to achieve sustainable development in the country. In an economy like ours, this is always done through private initiative and regulation. That is why it is very important to have this kind of initiative, because it shows us how far we can go as a country in tackling such complex and global challenges," said the Secretary of State.

Thanks to this plant, by 2025 all bottles in the Coca-Cola portfolio in Chile will contain 15% recycled PET resin, a percentage that will gradually increase until 100% recycled bottles are produced. Commenting on the challenge, Coca-Cola Andina Chairman of the Board Gonzalo Said said that Re-Ciclar reflects the company's commitment to investment and sustainable development in the country. For this reason, we hope that this operation will become a fundamental axis for the promotion of recycling in Chile and a benchmark of circular economy and innovation not only for our country, but for all of Latin America". Andrés Vicuña, Chairman of the Board of Coca-Cola Embonor, said, "This is the first fully operational PET bottle recycling plant in Chile. This is excellent news for the country, as it is a strong demonstration of the commitment of the Coca-Cola system, in addition to promoting growth with new quality jobs and generating sustainable innovation".

Re-Ciclar has a collaborative and inclusive model through strategic alliances with all members of the recycling chain, from grassroots recyclers to small, medium and large companies, local governments and territorial organizations, among others. In 2024, it expects to collect close to 10,000 tons of PET together with its allies, including the National Association of Recyclers of Chile, Latitud R, La Ciudad Posible and the collective action of citizens.

Soledad Mella, president of the National Association of Grassroots Recyclers (Anarch), said, "For us, Re-Ciclar is an opportunity for recognition, but above all for the empowerment of grassroots recyclers. Our negotiations with Coca-Cola and Re-Ciclar have always focused on improving conditions and giving visibility to these men and women who have been invisible in this work. For the first time, they have a concrete reality, and this is thanks to Re-Ciclar".

The recycling process at Re-Ciclar begins with people's commitment to properly dispose of their beverage bottles at clean sites. Then, grassroots recyclers and other companies are in charge for collecting and delivering the PET plastic to Re-Ciclar. Upon arrival at the plant, the bottles undergo a cleaning, analysis and crushing process that transforms the containers into flakes, which undergo an extrusion, crystallization and post-condensation process that allows them to recover the physical and chemical properties of PET to become recycled resin pellets. Finally, preforms are produced and loaded onto production lines where they go through a process of heating, blowing and filling with new beverages, ready for the end consumer.

Re-Ciclar is the most modern plant operated by Coca-Cola in Latin America and the third in the region, along with plants in Mexico and Paraguay. This makes Re-Ciclar a key player in the recycling industry in Chile, working closely with all stakeholders in the chain, both public and private, to generate a significant social, economic and environmental impact along the entire value chain and ensure that every PET bottle put on the market has a new life.

See original source in Spanish >

www.embonor.cl

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Coca-Cola: Inauguration of the first recycled PET plant in Chile

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