Vale has started using the PET-based dust suppressor on an industrial scale.. The new product is the result of 10 years of research by the company in partnership with the Federal University of Espírito Santo (UFES). The plastic undergoes a chemical recycling process that transforms it into resin, which can be applied to train wagons, access roads, and piles of iron ore, tailings, and coal, forming a protective film that prevents dust emissions.

The dust suppressor is a type of environmental control commonly used in the company’s operations and can be made from various raw materials, such as glycerin. However, production from recycled plastic is unique and patented by Vale and UFES. Since 2013, the university and the company have conducted tests and technical validations on a laboratory and pilot scale, attesting to the effectiveness of the product.

Besides ensuring efficient environmental control, the sustainable suppressor has the potential to remove more than 1 million PET bottles from the environment each month for production in Espírito Santo. The number could reach up to 2 million bottles by 2026, with expansion planned for other operations, which will require a total of 780,000 liters of suppressor.

In addition to bottles, the sustainable dust suppressor production process can also utilize other materials considered to be poorly recyclable, such as PET plastic used in trays and bottles of all colors, such as black energy drink bottles, which currently end up in landfills.