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Record Harvest in Brazilian Agribusiness and Growth of Agricultural Machinery Market in 2021 Boost Collection and Rerefining of Used and Contaminated Lubricating Oil

Written by Flavia Marinho
Published on 17/07/2021 at 07:18
Updated on 17/07/2021 at 17:51
óleo lubrificante - preço - rerrefino - sustentabilidade - refinaria - coleta - óleo usado - agronegócio
Rerrefino do óleo lubrificante usado e contaminado / Imagem: Lwart
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Post-Consumption Waste Management Is A Sustainable Alternative For Growth In Agriculture, Which Has Become One Of The Main Sectors Of The Economy Of Brazil

With significant growth rates in 2021, the Brazilian agribusiness has become one of the main sectors of the economy, and the demand for initiatives that promote sustainable development has grown in tandem with the sector, positioning Brazil among the top 5 markets in the world for the collection and rerefining of used and contaminated lubricating oil (ULOC). According to the National Supply Company (Conab), the agricultural harvest for the year is expected to reach a record total and an estimated growth of 5.7% compared to the previous year, which was already the largest in history.

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The growth in agriculture has also boosted the agricultural machinery market. According to the Brazilian Association of Machinery and Equipment Manufacturers (Abimaq), the expectation is for a 7% increase compared to 2020, which generated revenue of R$ 144.5 billion, considering both domestic and international sales.

High Demand For Agricultural Machinery Increases Post-Consumption Waste Generation

With the high demand for agricultural machinery, post-consumption waste generation has also increased, including used and contaminated lubricating oil (ULOC). Considered a Class I Hazardous Waste according to NBR-10004, ULOC is highly polluting and, if disposed of incorrectly, can cause significant damage to health and the environment.

The collection and recycling of used lubricating oil is one of the activities that support the circular economy and sustainability in agribusiness. Lubricating oil is the material used in machines, equipment, and engines, such as harvesters, motor cultivators, tractors, etc.

As it is used, the lubricant loses its functions and performance due to the degradation of certain additives. This leads to reduced cooling and increased friction, making oil change necessary.

Brazilian legislation requires that all used lubricating oil must be collected and sent for recycling through rerefining, and strictly prohibits the use of the waste as fuel, for burning, or for any other purposes.

Brazil Is Among The Top 5 Markets In The World In Terms Of Collection And Rerefining Of ULOC

Brazil is among the top 5 markets in the world in terms of collection and rerefining of ULOC. According to Aylla Kipper, manager of Institutional Relations and Sustainability at Lwart Environmental Solutions, there is a significant amount of ULOC that is still not disposed of properly. “Despite the 450 million liters of used or contaminated lubricating oil that are collected properly, a volume close to 150 million liters is disposed of inadequately and does not go through the legal rerefining process in Brazil. A significant portion of this collected volume in the country comes from agribusiness,” highlights the executive.

Lwart Environmental Solutions, a 100% Brazilian company based in Lençóis Paulista with operations in over 3,300 municipalities across the country, collected in 2020 alone, over 18 million liters of used lubricating oil just from the mining and agribusiness sectors.

A global reference in the rerefining of used lubricating oil, Lwart is the first rerefiner in Latin America to produce high-performance Group II base oils, the main raw material in the production of lubricating oil. The technology employed in the rerefining of ULOC by Lwart manages to reuse almost 100% of the waste that enters the industrial process. An eco-efficient process in which nothing is wasted, all raw material is utilized in some way.

Flavia Marinho

Flavia Marinho é Engenheira pós-graduada, com vasta experiência na indústria de construção naval onshore e offshore. Nos últimos anos, tem se dedicado a escrever artigos para sites de notícias nas áreas militar, segurança, indústria, petróleo e gás, energia, construção naval, geopolítica, empregos e cursos. Entre em contato com flaviacamil@gmail.com ou WhatsApp +55 21 973996379 para correções, sugestão de pauta, divulgação de vagas de emprego ou proposta de publicidade em nosso portal.

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