We last interviewed Ambipar in 2019. Could you give us a brief update on the company since then?

Ambipar is a multinational company with a presence in over 40 countries and a workforce of nearly 20,000 people. Since its founding in 1995, the company has remained focused on leading the environmental management and emergency response sectors. Our business operates under two main segments: Ambipar Environment and Ambipar Response.

Ambipar Environment is dedicated to waste recovery, circular economy, material treatment, reuse and recycling. Ambipar Response complements this by focusing on the prevention, preparedness, response and remediation of emergencies involving chemical products or other contaminants, and emergency response services for fires and environmental incidents on roads and railways. In recent years, we have extended our services to support governments in preventing, preparing for, and responding to natural disasters. In LATAM, in Chile, Peru, Brazil, and Uruguay, we actively participate in technical committees with governments through local associations like Abiquim, ASIQUR, ASIQUIM, receiving substantial technical support. How does Ambipar plan to participate in the growth of Latin America’s chemical and petrochemical industries?

Ambipar began as a logistics and transportation company specializing in chemical and petrochemical products in Brazil. We are dedicated to helping our clients tackle challenges in innovation and efficiency, focusing on process improvements, sustainability, and environmental stewardship—key priorities in both industries. Looking forward, we anticipate growth in these sectors across Latin America, particularly in Brazil and Mexico, with hopes that Argentina will soon follow suit.

We are making significant investments in projects. In March 2024, we launched the US$25 million GIRI industrial waste treatment plant in Santiago, Chile. This facility, the first in Latin America, aims to advance recycling efforts and minimize hazardous materials. We also have another similar project in the pipeline in Brazil for 2025.

Also in Brazil, beyond working with Braskem to promote the conscious and proper disposal of plastic products, we have formed a partnership with Dow Chemical Brazil, which focuses on understanding and addressing their recycling and recovery needs. Additionally, we are involved with Heineken in a significant glass bottle recycling project valued at nearly R$100 million. In Mexico, adding to our contract with DOW Chemical México, now we have just signed another contract with WEG, a company connected to the petrochemical industry, to support all its operations from USA to Chile. While our presence in Mexico is not as strong as in Brazil or USA and Canada, we are heavily investing in the market and betting on its potential. How would you evaluate the state of recycling in Latin America, and what is your strategy for addressing it?

Brazil’s legal framework strongly supports recycling and reuse, with concepts like extended producer responsibility deeply embedded in the country’s regulations. Chile and Peru are also making notable strides in this area. Although Mexico is not yet as advanced as Brazil, we are excited to contribute to their progress to help them navigate this transition.

Waste is typically considered an environmental liability that companies must pay to dispose of. We are flipping this script by transforming that liability into an asset: Valorized waste can become raw material for another industry or even serve as an alternative energy source. Our strategy also focuses on minimizing the volume of waste that requires final disposal. How do APLA and local associations contribute to standardizing processes in the petrochemical industry?

Each company has its own culture regarding prevention, preparation and response, but the industry, supported by organizations like APLA and local associations, plays a significant role in standardizing these processes. As a result, there is now a nearly universal standard in the petrochemical industry for managing these aspects.

The petrochemical industry has recognized that extending its commitment beyond the plant is essential. Ensuring that everyone in the supply chain (suppliers, transporters and logistics providers) adheres to its high safety and operational standards is essential. This means not only setting demanding expectations but also supporting suppliers to meet these rigorous standards. What should we expect from AMBIPAR in the future?

We will continue restructuring the recent acquisitions from the past three years and improving our solution portfolio. We want to improve efficiency with each project and emergency situation by offering integrated solutions in a one-stop-shop model, ensuring that we maintain the high-quality standards we strive for every day.