German RETech Partnership strengthens German-Brazilian partnerships for the circular economy

Beatrice Decker (project lead) looks back on a successful three-week trip through Brazil on behalf of the BMUV's Environmental Protection Export Initiative for the Internationalization of German GreenTech SMEs. With numerous visits, discussions and events, important insights were gained and new project opportunities identified.

The trip began with RETech's participation in the German Pavilion at WasteExpo Brazil in São Paulo, a leading trade fair for waste management and recycling technology in Latin America. Here, German companies such as Eggersmann Anlagenbau GmbH, Zettl Process Technology, Barradas GmbH, WTA UNISOL GmbH, STEINERT, WEIMA Maschinenbau GmbH, Krones Recycling and UTV AG presented their innovative solutions and, according to their own words, made promising contacts.

One highlight was a visit to one of the largest landfills in the megacity of São Paulo, which processes around 7,000 tons of waste every day. Modern technologies are already being used to treat landfill gas and leachate, for example to convert landfill gas as fuel (biomethane) for the company's own waste collection vehicles. Future expansions are planned to promote the recovery of materials and to make the landfill accessible as an educational facility.

In Rio de Janeiro, RETech met partners such as the German-Brazilian AHK, ReverseLab from BlackForest Solutions GmbH and Aegea Saneamento, a major player in water and wastewater management that is expanding its activities in the waste sector. To this end, RETech traveled to favelas together with Aegea to get a better idea of the real challenges of insufficient infrastructure. Opportunities for cooperative projects were identified where German expertise is required.

The trip concluded with participation in the 12th SIMPÓSIO INTERNACIONAL DE QUALIDADE AMBIENTAL in Porto Alegre. RETech took the opportunity to present German approaches to organic waste treatment in a panel discussion and to exchange ideas with local experts. The recent flooding in Porto Alegre highlighted the need for improved waste disposal infrastructure to help protect the climate and the environment.

Looking back, the trip strengthened understanding of the regional challenges and led to numerous new contacts and project ideas. Further projects are already planned for 2025 to expand partnerships and promote the implementation of sustainable solutions in line with the circular economy.