Proplanet

Products to facilitate our life and the life of our planet
2014 SEED Low Carbon Award; IKI BMU
Waste Management
Antioquia
Colombia

Proplanet undertakes research to develop processes that transform hard-to-recycle materials. The raw materials are sourced from local collection centres and transformed in Proplanet’s production facility. The three product lines - food packaging, construction materials, and paper fibres - are sold to retailers, catering companies, and local paper factories. 

Proplanet offers customers sustainable products of prime quality. Currently it is expanding its biodegradable food packaging line to include food packaging that is resistant to refrigeration, thereby substituting plastic packaging. The enterprise has created demand for used Tetra Paks, previously of no value, providing an additional source of income for waste collectors.

Eco-Inclusive Impacts
Proplanet has generated 21 jobs, ensuring the presence of women at all levels, including in executive management. The enterprise has also created demand for used Tetra Paks, previously of no value, providing an additional source of income for waste collectors.
  • Promoting gender equality by employing women at all levels, including in executive management.
  • Supplying construction materials for priority housing.
  • Contributing tiles for the construction of a new collection centre.
  • Raising awareness in the community and among waste collectors on correct waste separation.
  • Replacing non-biodegradable packaging, like plastic or polystyrene, with paper packaging that biodegrades in four months.
  • Recycling waste that is normally not recycled, e.g. currently 30 t of Tetra Pak per month.
  • Reducing energy consumption, ensuring a closed water cycle and zero-waste production.
  • Generating 21 jobs in the enterprise and additional income sources for more than 100 waste collectors.
  • Creating demand for used Tetra Paks, which previously were of no value to waste collectors.
  • Opening up markets and extending the product range of Proplanet.

 

Partners

Proplanet transforms materials that are hard to recycle, such as long-life Tetra Paks, into food packaging, construction materials and paper fibre. It is the first enterprise in Colombia recycling Tetra Paks. Through intensive research on how to improve its recycling processes, Proplanet managed to increase the spectrum of recycled materials and expand its product range, considerably reducing the pressure on landfills in Colombia.

Proplanet is a business which develops processes to recycle hard-to-recycle materials and manufactures the final products.

Emprender Para La Vida, a co-operation of the business incubator CREAME and the metropolitan area Valle de Aburrá which promotes environmental entrepreneurship, has provided business support to Proplanet since 2013.

Tetra Pak Andina has loaned Proplanet equipment under a loan-for-use agreement in order to help increase their rate of recycling.