Grupo Ecological, a Brazilian recycling company based in Limeira near São Paulo, is utilizing two Micromat shredders from Austria-based Lindner-Recyclingtech GmbH to process polypropylene (PP) plastic scrap. These shredders, along with a Lindner Washtech washing line, play a pivotal role in converting postconsumer and post-industrial plastic waste, including biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP) and oriented polypropylene raffia (Rafi-PP), into high-quality re-granulate. This initiative is part of a collaborative project with Unilever, which has led to the production of the world’s first shampoo bottle caps made entirely from recycled postconsumer plastics.

Founded in 2012, Grupo Ecological builds on decades of expertise in plastics recycling through its predecessor company, which began operations in the 1970s. Sustainability has always been central to its mission, says founder Fábio Kühl. The company aims to provide sustainable, cost-effective solutions in recycled raw materials, waste management, and sustainability consultation. Grupo Ecological has established a closed-loop program to transform postconsumer plastics into secondary resins for companies like Unilever.

After two years of collaboration, Unilever launched the first 100% recycled-content bottle caps in August 2022 for its Silk and TRESemmé hair care brands in Brazil. These caps were later adopted for Unilever’s Rexona, Seda, and Comfort product lines, recycling 700 metric tons of plastic annually. This achievement allowed Unilever to surpass its 2025 sustainability goal of using at least 25% recycled plastic in its packaging three years ahead of schedule. The caps have since been expanded to Unilever’s Nutrition division, including ketchup bottles.

Producing recyclates for the cosmetics and food industries requires high purity, consistent quality, and minimal odor and color. Kühl credits Lindner’s shredding and washing technology for meeting these stringent standards. The partnership began after Grupo Ecological tested Lindner equipment and visited operating lines, ultimately purchasing two Micromat 1500 shredders and a washing line. The shredders process heavily contaminated plastics with high throughput and minimal contaminants, yielding flakes of uniform quality.

Kühl highlights the reliability of the Micromat shredders, which process up to 800 metric tons of plastic monthly with 90% of the output shredded to under 25 millimeters. This robust performance has helped Unilever increase postconsumer plastic content in its packaging in Brazil from 27% to 37% annually.

Frederico Hartmann, Lindner’s CEO in Latin America, commends the project for demonstrating that postconsumer plastics can meet the strict requirements of industries like cosmetics and food. He emphasizes the importance of technology in advancing the circular economy, celebrating the long-standing collaboration with Grupo Ecological as a model of success.