Ball Corporation to open ‘circular economy lab’ in Brazil

Ball Corporation has broken ground on a ‘circular economy lab’ in Fernando de Noronha, Brazil, which will help process cans and educate consumers about recycling.

The beverage packaging giant says that the project will create a model circular economy on the island by centralising the collection and recycling of aluminium cans.

Named the Vadelata for the Planet Lab, the 4,300-square-foot facility is expected to open in 2022. 

©Ball Corporation

When cans arrive at the lab, they will be cleaned and pressed before being transported to a nearby Ball manufacturing plant and recycling centre to be turned into new coils for cans.

The lab will feature conference rooms for lectures and courses, as well as exhibition space, and will engage with residents to drive education around recycling. The facility will also be used to demonstrate new technologies that support the transition to a sustainable, low-carbon economy.

“As part of the company’s recently announced 2030 sustainability goals and industry vision for circularity, the innovative Vadelata for the Planet Lab will demonstrate what’s possible when we invest in and prioritise aluminium recycling,” said Fauze Villatoro, commercial and sustainability vice president, Ball Corporation South America.

“The resources within this lab will allow us to create a circular economy that will make a difference in the lives of residents and tourists in Brazil and contribute to a more sustainable planet. By building a more innovative and effective way to collect beverage aluminium cans and educating consumers about the importance of recycling, we can help solve the packaging waste crisis.”

Fernando de Noronha Mayor, Guilherme Rocha, added: “The lab brings a concept that needs to be increasingly disseminated across the country and around the world, combining care for the environment and income generation for the local economy”.