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Total recycling,
Real Impact. 
100% Recycled, 
100% Real

ReAl Technology 
(Recycling Aluminum) 

Located within CBA's Alumínio (SP) plant, the ReAl technology plant has the capacity to recycle 1.3 billion items of packaging annually, designed to be expanded modularly, as demand rises. The facility is currently in the commissioning phase, which involves gradual and continuous operation stages, aiming to achieve industrial scale by the first quarter of 2025. 

ReAl: pioneering recycling 

Leveraging a breakthrough technology developed and patented by CBA, the ReAl Technology (Recycling Aluminum) project enables flexible and aseptic foil packaging to be fully recycled.  
Innovatively, the new technology is able to chemically separate plastic and aluminum from these materials. This ensures the complete separation of materials and the circularity of the process, enabling the polymer and aluminum to be used in new, higher value-added products. 

How it works:

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ReAl uniquely enables the recycling of everyday items such as milk or juice aseptic packaging containing aluminum, as well as flexible packaging utilized for chocolates, toothpaste and powdered coffee.

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The packaging arrives at CBA through selective consumer recycling in partnership with recycling companies. For packages containing pulp (paper), fibers are extracted and reused by a partner paper recycler. 

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Packaging that contains pulp (paper) undergoes an additional step in the partner recycler's Hydrapulper, equipment designed to separate the paper from the main input for ReAl, which is a mixture of plastic and aluminum (PoliAlu). PoliAlu is sent to the cleaning plant, where organic residues, heavy materials and metals are separated. 
The PoliAlu is subsequently shredded into smaller pieces and transported to the chemical reaction plant. 

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At the ReAl chemical reaction plant, PoliAlu is washed and directed to the reactor, where a chemical reaction occurs in an alkaline solution with an optimal concentration of caustic soda.  
In the process, green hydrogen is produced as a byproduct—a clean energy source with zero CO2  emissions, which can be used on site in replacement of fossil fuels.

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After the chemical reaction, the polymer undergoes separation, washing and centrifugation, and is shipped to plastic recycling companies for use in new applications. 

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The aluminum separated in the reactor is shipped to CBA’s Refinery and returns to the production process as liquid aluminum. It can be subsequently be transformed into primary products, such as ingots or rod, or semi-fabricated products, such as sheets and foils, which can be used to produce new post-consumer packaging. 
 

SOCIAL VALUE

We open new paths.
For waste pickers. 
For cooperatives. 
For producers. For everyone.


ReAl technology is blazing a trail in the separation and recycling the aluminum and polymer components of multilayer packaging, thereby guaranteeing its circularity.   We foster inclusion and sustainability for all.

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Brandowners

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Consumers

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Waste Pickers / Cooperatives

This is the missing step toward a more:

Circular. Transformational. Sustainable.

Benefits

A groundbreaking technology capable of separating 100% of the materials in multilayered packaging 

ReAl technology ensures that all materials in multilayered packaging are recycled, guaranteeing full circularity and efficiency.

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Reducing environmental impac

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100% circular economy

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Expanding post-consumption packaging recycling

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Guaranteed recycled content

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Reduced waste volumes

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Supports a network of cooperatives, providing job and income opportunities

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Lower energy consumption

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Lower CO2 emissions

ESG strategy 

Besides all these advantages, ReAl technology was conceived to integrate into the existing dynamics of the waste packaging collection and recycling chain. This is one more effort, among many others, that are part of this process in Brazil, creating social value, for example by increasing the income of those people that make a living by collecting recyclable materials from the streets.  

CBA’s innovation has significant potential to boost collection rates, which directly increases the volume of packaging available for recycling and brings major benefits to the entire sector. 

Ods
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Testimonials

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Eduardo Couto

Director of Laboratório Nacional de Biorrenováveis (LNBR/CNPEM)

"CBA ReAl technology marks a milestone for the CNPEM pilot plant within the circular economy, as scaling up this technology was crucial to making an industrial facility feasible. Contributing to the reuse of plastics complements our R&D activities in biotechnology in the pursuit of a more sustainable planet." 

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Valéria Michel

Sustainability Officer, Tetra Pak 

"Tetra Pak has been operating in Brazil for over 25 years, working with its entire network of suppliers, academia, and other stakeholders to develop the world's most sustainable food packaging. Our commitment to post-consumption includes researching and finding solutions with our partners to recycle all materials in our cartons. Tetra Pak views ReAl Technology as a significant milestone in further developing the recycling value chain for carton packaging and promoting the recycling of packaging as a whole." 

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Fernando Varella

Director, Downstream Business 

“ReAl enters the market as a groundbreaking and innovative solution to address a large-scale challenge. The technology developed by CBA has immense potential to boost post-consumer collection rates, making multilayered packaging more recyclable. It enhances the entire collection and sorting chain for recyclable materials, proportionally increasing the volume available for recycling and benefiting the entire sector.

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