JBS's Environmental division breaks record and recycled 7,600 tons of plastic in 2025
Recycled resin production reached 4,400 tons during the period, an 8% increase over 2024.
Ambiental, a JBS company specializing in solid waste management, achieved its highest ever volume of plastic recycling in 2025: 7,600 tons in one year. This result represents a 51% increase over the previous record and reinforces the consolidation of a circular economy model within the company, in which waste from production units returns to the market as new products or high-value-added raw materials.
In 11 years of operation, Ambiental has already prevented almost 55,000 tons of plastic from ending up in landfills, a volume equivalent to 24 Olympic swimming pools. Instead of being discarded, the material underwent sorting, processing, and transformation into recycled resin and other industrial products. “The growth in the volume of recycled plastic in 2025 is not only an environmental indicator, it's operational efficiency. We managed to transform what was previously a disposal cost into a record 4,400 tons of high-quality resin,” explains Thuany Taves, director of Ambiental. “In practice, we are proving that the circular economy at JBS is a value engine, generating industrial inputs that supply everything from the furniture sector to civil construction,” she adds.
Recycled resin production reached 4,400 tons during the period, an 8% increase over 2024. This performance was mainly driven by the reuse of big bags – bags used for storing and transporting agricultural inputs – and by plastic waste from the operations of JBS business units such as Friboi, Seara, Swift, Couros, and Novos Negócios.
Versatile, resin gives rise to a wide range of applications, from plastic bags, reels and pallets to engineering solutions such as furniture, roof tiles, ACM panels and green flooring. By expanding the supply of recycled inputs, the company contributes to reducing the demand for virgin raw materials and strengthening production chains with less environmental impact.
In addition to plastic, Ambiental also manages paper, glass, and metal, and is responsible for the reverse logistics of complex and non-recyclable items such as light bulbs, batteries, and accumulators. In 2025, the company managed 34,000 tons of solid waste – a 13% increase compared to the previous year – all with environmentally sound disposal certification.
“Looking at plastic is fundamental, but the environmental management of a company the size of JBS requires a 360-degree view. By managing 34,000 tons of waste, from paper to glass, including complex items such as batteries, we ensure that nothing is lost or generates liabilities. This 13% growth reflects our ability to offer a complete solution, where 100% of what leaves the factories has a proper and certified destination,” emphasizes Thuany.
Consolidated structure and operational expansion
With 22 branches strategically located in the states of Goiás, Minas Gerais, Mato Grosso do Sul, São Paulo, and Paraná, Ambiental operates an integrated sorting and processing system. The regional units function as material preparation centers, from which the material is subsequently sent to the headquarters in Lins (SP) for transformation into resin.
In 2025, the company expanded its operations with a new unit at the Distribution Center in Anhanguera, São Paulo, strengthening its integration with brands such as Seara and Friboi and initiating operations with Swift.
The existing infrastructure puts the company in a comfortable position to meet the reverse logistics goals stipulated in federal legislation, which will require greater recovery of plastic packaging and incorporation of recycled resin in the coming years. “We are entering 2026 with the peace of mind of those who have already validated the operational model. Today, we deliver solutions that exceed legal requirements, reaching up to 100% recycled content in some plastic films. We are not just complying with a regulation; we are setting the pace for how the industry can decouple itself from the use of virgin resources,” Thuany points out.
Key figures for 2025:
The figures solidify Ambiental as one of the pillars of JBS's circular economy strategy, combining operational efficiency, value creation, and reduced environmental impact on an industrial scale.
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