Empapel Expert Highlights Advances and Challenges in Brazil’s Circular Economy and Reverse Logistics

Rafael Filgueira, coordinator of Reverse Logistics at Empapel, presented an overview of Brazil’s paper supply chain and circular economy challenges at the ESG Forum in Juiz de Fora. Brazil ranks as the second-largest pulp producer and world’s leading exporter, with strong paper and corrugated board production, alongside extensive cultivated forests and preserved native areas reflecting a balance between production and conservation. Empapel, formed in 2020, is expanding its role to strengthen the connection between recycling, reverse logistics, and circular economy initiatives. Despite regulatory progress such as the National Solid Waste Policy and Planares decree targeting 50% packaging recovery by 2040, recycling levels remain low—only 8.3% of urban solid waste is recycled while 58% of paper is reclaimed. Juiz de Fora’s selective collection, at 1% of total waste, shows room for improvement alongside public awareness efforts. Filgueira stressed the urgency for collective action by governments, businesses, and society to advance sustainable resource use amid global ecological overshoot.