Innovation

Proplanet begins its transformation cycle with the purchasing and storage of raw material that get ground up to separate its layers, which allows the creation of a portfolio that includes high quality products, 100% recyclable, to protect the environment at competitive prices.

The company focuses on organizations that agree to utilize fewer natural resources for distribution of the following products:

• Regular Use: dishes, platters, cup holders, etc.
• Packaging and Distribution: Egg containers, Fruit containers, etc.
• Planters
• Medical recyclable containers
• Footwear filling
• Packaging and conditioning accessories
• Lamps and fluorescent light packages, electronic equipment, furniture, school desks, etc.

Inspiration

The company was created as a response to assist the conscious efforts of many organizations that seek to diminish the environmental impact caused by the production and manufacturing processes of their products.

"We have managed to take a raw material that usually ends up in landfills and turn it into a useful product. Initially they began by turning discarded food boxes into recyclable tableware. We take cellulose food packaging and we turn it into plates, cups and various containers" said Natalia Uribe, Country Manager.

Overall impact

"As a pioneer company, Proplanet is seeking to diminish the environmental impact caused by waste through the manufacturing of products that come from the paper pulp and recycled fibers which derives from the recycling process of soft drink packages," said Natalia Uribe, Company Manager.

Business benefit

The company was created in 2011 and in the past year has reported a growth of 123% with 40 employees and the production capacity of 1,000 tons of recycled material which is used to manufacture 10,000 parts of sustainable mobility items. Proplanet has been awarded the seeds under the carbon impact initiative, a certified program sponsored by the United Nations.

Social and environmental benefit

Social: Each year 300,000 children have to abandon school in Colombia due to the lack of resources in the learning institutions with the minimum conditions to study. Throughout programs and partnerships with organizations that generate waste, Proplanet has been able to transform the waste produced by these companies to portable school desks that have been donated to the most vulnerable schools. "During the 2015-2016 period, more than 30 education institutions among the poor class in different zones of the country, have received 14,000 portable school desks made of recyclable products," said Natalia Uribe, Country Manager.

Environmental: According to the Institute of Hydrology, Meteorology, and Environmental studies of Colombia, IHMEC, 120,000 hectares of forests are cut every year, highly increasing the drought by the rivers. By recycling the resulting elements from the life cycle of soft drink manufactures in the country, Proplanet can utilize the recycled fiber from the paper pulp taking advantage of the waste and diminishing the use of natural resources.

In addition, "the transformation of paper fibers that creates a large portfolio of items of high consumption, help to avoid 14,400 tons of waste in the landfills," said Natalia Uribe, Company Manager.

Interview

Natalia Uribe - Company Manager, Interview