Brazil produces approximately 30,000 tons of PU every year, with three large manufacturers being the main source. Of the total, an estimated 8% or 2,400 tons equivalent to 9,600 cubic metres are simply dumped.
Now, in a bid to lessen the impact of this waste product on the environment, Brazilian PU producer Coim Brasil Ltda has set up Latin America’s first new PU sole recycling station. Located in Novo Hamburgo/RS, the R$5 million (US$ 1.7 million) investment unit is said to have a capacity of 150 tons of PU soles per month that would otherwise take 3-4 years to degrade.
Developed by Coim Italy, the recycling technology applied at the new plant consists of a resin storage unit and two reactors as well as other state-of-the-art equipment. The whole recycling process is carried out in a closed-circuit hydrogen environment that prevents effluent gas from leaking into the atmosphere. All other applicable safety measures have been taken and the project has been fully approved by FEPAM, the State Environmental Protection Foundation of Rio Grande do Sul and the local Fire Brigade.
The premises where the plant is installed have been refurbished and adapted to the new operation and include a development and test laboratory, plus a technical assistance unit that advises on the best use of the PU produced. As the plant only accepts waste from Coim's customers, approximately thirty companies are part of the scheme including Azaléia, Politec, Matrissola and Dakota while the PU produced carries the same warranty as new PU, but sold at 10-15% of the price.
Claudio Neves Demar, marketing director of Coim Brasil, says that besides the benefits it brings to the environment, the PU recycling process also has strong economic advantages as it obviates disposal charges for the participating manufacturers. Coim says it now intends to extend capacity at the Novo Hamburgo unit. It also has plans to set up two more, one in the state of São Paulo and the other in the Northeast of the country.
