Logística reversa: estudo de caso em relação a garrafas PET pós-consumo reciclado (PET-PCR) de água mineral

Abstract

Plastic packaging in general, due to the expressive generation have become an environmental issue, especially when associated with inappropriate destination. Waste reduction has become an objective for several countries and organizations, and the concept of the production cycle is gradually replacing the perception of a "one-way" economy of a circular economy. In this context, the objective of the present work was to analyze the strategies and the process of reverse logistics used for the production of post-consumer recycled PET bottles (rPET) of spring water, from a factory located in the city of Poland, state of Maine, United States. The data from the process mapping was obtained electronically, such as websites of the company under study, electronic pages with information from the reverse vending machine and the website of the recycling company as well. The consumer starts the cycle through the consumption of water, disposes of the bottle correctly, preferably in the vending machines, allowing the recycling company to recycle the waste and making it possible to manufacture pellets. The company under study uses pellets to manufacture new rPET bottles, promoting a circular economy. In relation reverse logistics strategies, the use of water packaging was identified as a means of communication to inform the appropriate form of destination; and the reimbursement given to the consumer when disposing of their packages in reverse vending machines.