Waste management at CASACOR São Paulo: a success story
In ten years, the total waste volume dropped by an average of 66%, achieving an incredible reuse level of 99.8%, certified by Instituto Lixo Zero Brasil over the past four years
For the fourth consecutive time, CASACOR São Paulo achieved the Zero Waste certification in 2024 , this time for reaching a level of 99.8% waste reuse in the 2023 edition. This result stems from a gradual and consistent effort that began in 2014. Prior to that, all waste generated during the São Paulo show was managed by the participating professionals. Each of them hired dumpsters for the assembly and disassembly phases of the environments – and, in the case of companies operating food and beverage spaces, also during the show.
Since 2016, the disposal cycle has been unified for the entire show.
This began to change with the arrival of two key players in this revolution: Livia Pedreira and Darlan Firmato, then executive director and architect of CASACOR São Paulo. “We have a special interest in the area of sustainability, and when planning the 2015 edition, we realized it was necessary to transform the way waste was managed during the show,” says Livia, current president of the advisory board.
First, it was necessary to gather information on the subject. Thus, in 2015, a comprehensive data survey was conducted in partnership with Inovatech Engenharia consultancy. The goal was to underpin an action plan with targets to make the show more sustainable. Since then, some consolidated numbers demonstrate the success of these measures:
Waste Management
2,140 tons was the average volume of waste generated per edition of the show until 2015.
A pilot project in 2015 involved teams for the correct separation and disposal of all plaster and wood waste from the show.
90% of the waste began to be diverted from landfills in 2016 thanks to centralized waste management.
Darlan Firmato, operations director of CASACOR São Paulo
Reduction and Reuse
The production of organic compost and the reduction of printed materials further reduced waste generation by 28% in 2017.
The 99.3% reuse rate was achieved in 2018.
The leftover paint used in the environments, totaling 550 kg in the first year alone, is returned to the manufacturer, Coral, under a reverse logistics scheme adopted since 2018. Returned to the industry, this material becomes a new byproduct.
A 66% reduction in the total waste generated compared to the volume recorded in 2015 came in 2019 with the ban on masonry and paper maps.
Another example of reverse logistics is the Salvabras floor protector, returned to the factory for reuse or as part of the production line,
Paulo Salles, managing partner of Salvabras
Zero Waste Certification
The first Zero Waste certification was granted in 2021, referring to the 2019 show, and has been renewed since then.
A documentary about the entire waste management process was made in 2022, at Conjunto Nacional, on Avenida Paulista, in collaboration with CICLO.