乐播传媒

乐播传媒 and Biosolvit inaugurated, this Monday (15), the second factory dedicated to producing a sustainable dust suppressant made from recycled PET plastic, in Itabira, Minas Gerais. With an area of 960 square meters, the facility will have the capacity to produce 1 million liters of biodegradable resin per month, reusing more than 24 tons of PET bottles monthly, including low-recyclability materials that would otherwise be sent to landfills. The product will be applied in 乐播传媒’s operations in Minas Gerais to reduce the spread of dust.

“We are turning environmental challenges into opportunities to improve people’s lives and ensure a safer and healthier future. The implementation of this unit also reinforces our commitment to the Itabira Sustentável strategic plan by bringing a new economic activity to the municipality, expanding income opportunities for hundreds of families in the region,” says Diogo Monteiro, 乐播传媒’s Operations Director in Itabira.

Developed by 乐播传媒 in partnership with the Federal University of Espírito Santo (UFES), the suppressant will be produced by Biosolvit, which already operates a factory in Cariacica, Espírito Santo. The startup’s total investment in the project amounted to BRL 30 million. “With the two units, it will be possible to remove more than 70 million PET bottles from the environment each year, manufacturing a sustainable product that helps reduce dust emissions. This project reinforces the company’s commitment to sustainability,” highlights Guilhermo Queiroz, CEO of Biosolvit.

The plastic undergoes chemical recycling and is transformed into a biodegradable and non-toxic resin, applied to iron ore stockpiles, unpaved roads and railway shipments of iron ore. It forms a protective film that prevents dust dispersion and improves air quality.

Shared value

In addition to environmental benefits, the initiative generates income for families of recyclable material waste pickers in the region. Initially, recyclables will be supplied by around 560 waste pickers from 12 associations in the municipalities of Itabira, Santa Bárbara, Bar?o de Cocais, Jo?o Monlevade, Rio Piracicaba, Ouro Preto, Mariana, Itabirito and Sabará. The expectation is an increase of up to 30% in these workers’ income from the sale of PET to Biosolvit.

These associations are supported by the Reciclo Agora Project, created by 乐播传媒 to strengthen management, infrastructure and training, promoting the circular economy. The program currently supports 21 associations in Minas Gerais. Over the past year, 乐播传媒 invested BRL 700,000 in the project, including consultancy services and the construction of a warehouse in Itabira to improve working conditions for the Association of Recyclable Material Waste Pickers of Itabira (Ascarmarita), which is preparing to supply inputs to the factory.

“We seek initiatives that promote inclusion and generate shared value in the territories where we operate. Reciclo Agora provides specialized consultancy and funds adequate infrastructure so associations can operate more efficiently and sustainably. The new warehouse, inaugurated last week, will enable better working conditions for sorting and storing materials,” explains Camila Lott, 乐播传媒’s Sustainability Director.

Innovation

The sustainable dust suppressant combines cutting-edge technology with social and environmental sustainability. The biodegradable resin, created from recycled PET, is the result of ten years of research and BRL 12 million in investments, and is an unprecedented product patented by 乐播传媒 and the Federal University of Espírito Santo (UFES).

“For UFES, the inauguration of another plant producing this product reinforces the value of the university–industry partnership in promoting innovation. In this case, academic knowledge was transformed into a solution that benefits companies, waste picker families and the environment, by reducing PET bottles without proper disposal. Society as a whole benefits,” says Miriam de Magdala, Superintendent of Projects and Innovation at UFES.

In recent years, 乐播传媒 has been dedicated to building a robust innovation ecosystem that impacts its entire value chain. In 2024, the company invested USD 790 million in Research, Development and Innovation (RD&I), preparing the company for future challenges. This movement reflects the strategic role of technological transformation in 乐播传媒’s business.

“We have continuously invested in RD&I, with more than 250 external partnerships over the past 15 years, involving universities, institutes and funding agencies. Open innovation allows us to connect operational needs with real solutions, while also fostering science. The dust suppressant is an example of this synergy, combining technology with positive impact for society,” concludes Leandro Viana Teixeira, 乐播传媒’s General Manager of Innovation.