Approximately 150 participants shared experiences regarding recycling and environmental education

Telêmaco Borba, April 30, 2025 - The Klabin Transforms Circular Territory program brought together school teachers and principals from the region in Telêmaco Borba, Paraná, to discuss environmental awareness, recycling and economy.

The "Educator's Legacy" event reinforced the key topics covered during the training of Natural Sciences teachers, which occurred in 2024. In this module, the importance of educators discussing topics like recycling and the environment in the classroom was emphasized.

Municipal schools of Telêmaco Borba, Imbaú, Ortigueira and Reserva, in Paraná, participated. In addition to the theoretical component, the education professionals visited the recycling cooperatives, which are currently operating as social franchises and receive consulting services from Ambipar. They gained practical understanding of waste management, the life cycle of packaging, the process of waste separation, and how these activities translate into income and enhance the quality of life for the cooperative members.

Juliana Navea, Director of Operations of Ambipar's Post-Consumption Unit, emphasizes the importance of educators' involvement. "Together, Klabin and Ambipar promote environmental education across all sectors of society in the municipalities where the program is active. We provide training, deliver returnable bags for recyclable waste and help municipalities adapt their public policies to comply with Brazil's National Solid Waste Policy. And, in 2024, we implemented training programs for educators with the goal of reaching those who represent our future: the children.”

According to Simone Martins, a teacher at Maria da Luz Municipal School in Imbaú, Paraná, the meeting was crucial in emphasizing the role of educators in cultivating environmental awareness among children and young people. "We are going to create a project at school with the children to demonstrate the importance of sorting waste and the time it takes for each type of waste to decompose. We need to be more mindful and instill awareness in children from a young age," emphasizes Simone.

During the "Legacy of the Municipal Manager" event, the focus was on fostering dialogue and sharing experiences regarding environmental stewardship and the facilitation of proper waste disposal in municipalities. The event brought together environmental managers from the municipalities of Telêmaco Borba, Imbaú, Reserva, Ortigueira, Sapopema, Rio Branco do Ivaí, Tibagi, Curiúva and Jaguariaíva, in Paraná.

“School teachers and principals play their part in environmental education by emphasizing the proper disposal of waste, respect for the environment and appreciation for recycling professionals. Municipal managers promote recycling programs in the municipalities by providing designated disposal sites, scheduling regular truck pickups on fixed days, and implementing incentive initiatives like exchanging recyclable materials for food. And with this initiative, Klabin leaves a legacy in the region as an example of sustainable actions, benefiting everyone—society, the environment and the economy," emphasizes Uilson Paiva, the Klabin manager responsible for the Klabin Transforms Circular Territory program.

For Claudimara Quadros, the principal of the Professor Elias Abraão Municipal Rural School in Ortigueira, Paraná, the training was very important in in making the teachers' work in the classroom easier. "The teachers returned from the visit with enthusiasm, particularly due to the opportunity to closely observe the work conducted by the recycling cooperative. Having a close relationship enhances learning, and this is very important for schools," she emphasizes.

About the Klabin Transforms Circular Territory program

Promoted by Klabin using Ambipar's technology, the Klabin Transforms Circular Territory initiative aims to engage the community in proper waste disposal, support municipalities in complying with the National Solid Waste Policy, and focus on the social inclusion of recycling cooperatives and professionals. It also seeks to transform sorting centers into social impact enterprises, enhancing productive efficiency, increasing the income of cooperative members and scaling up waste recovery.

In 2024 alone, the cooperatives involved in the program recovered more than 2,400 metric tons of recyclable waste. In the same year, Telêmaco's Cooperative of Environmental Agents (ReciclaTB), the first to become a social franchise, recorded an increase in the average monthly income of the cooperative members. “The average monthly income of the cooperative's members was R$3,500 at the beginning of 2024, and rose to R$4,300 by the end of the year, due to increased revenue. Last year, ReciclaTB transformed into a social franchise, marking a significant advancement for the project. This shift involved adopting new practices and systems to optimize processes and strengthen management, which led to a considerable increase in income generation for the cooperative members," Paiva emphasizes.

The program operates in seven municipalities in Paraná: Telêmaco Borba, Reserva, Ortigueira, Imbaú, Tibagi, Rio Branco do Ivaí and Sapopema.