Brazil paper recycling rate reaches 60.4% in 2025

Brazil recycled 4.634 million tons of paper in 2025, representing a recycling rate of 60.4%. When focusing specifically on paper packaging, the recycling rate reached 66.9%.

These figures mark an increase compared to 2024, with a 1.6% rise in overall paper recycling and a 2% increase in paper packaging recycling. The data comes from a study conducted by the Brazilian Paper Packaging Association (Empapel) and the Brazilian Tree Industry (Ibá).

The transition toward a circular economy is becoming increasingly urgent for Brazil to meet international requirements and improve industrial competitiveness. Currently, the country faces structural challenges in waste management, where significant amounts of recyclable materials are improperly discarded rather than being reintroduced into the production chain.