Brasil Pelo Meio Ambiente

ABOUT IT

The improper disposal of mattresses, fridges and freezers as well as sofas can overload landfills and cause negative impacts on the environment, the economy and society. To address the problem of irregular disposal of this type of waste and raise awareness as to the lifespan of these materials, Dow has created, together with collaborative partnerships, the Reuse - Correct disposal is just the beginning campaign.  

 

Polyurethane technologies are among the main solutions produced by Dow and are used in mattress applications, furniture, upholstery, refrigeration systems, among others. The campaign provides an opportunity to establish a model for reusing polyurethane (PU) foams at the end of their useful life and prevent them from being disposed of in landfills or incinerated, benefiting not only polyurethane foams, but also other components of mattresses, sofas, refrigerators and freezers for recycling. The initiative works to integrate value chains in the search for solutions for the circularity of materials. The campaign also encourages and guides the selective collection of materials and is an ongoing initiative, supported by the Akatu Institute.

Results and Objectives

In its first phase, launched in 2021, the campaign focused on recycling mattresses and sofas in the city of Hortolândia, Brazil, with the support of the city council. In this phase, Reuse collected and sent to recycling more than 3,500 items, including wood, polyurethane foam, fabrics, rubber, springs and other materials. As part of the initiative, educational actions were also carried out in around 30 municipal schools in the region to raise awareness and mobilize students and communities to dispose of materials correctly.

 

With the success of the first stage, the project was expanded to reuse refrigerators and freezers, in partnership with Indústria Fox. At the beginning of 2022, Reuse expanded geographically to other cities in the São Paulo metropolitan region and countryside. 

 

By the end of the campaign, in May 2023, 462 items had been collected, including fridges and freezers, and 47 teachers from 21 schools had carried out activities with their classes.

SDGs

11. Sustainable cities and communities , 12. Responsible consumption and production , 9. Industry innovation and infrastructure

External Certification

Não

International Commitments

National Commitments

National Solid Waste Policy (PNRS)

More info

REUSE | Correct disposal is just the beginning

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