LAMOSA Group in Brazil partners with Uniformes do Bem to recycle clothing and PPE used by its employees

The LAMOSA Group in Brazil, which owns the Roca Cerámica and Incepa porcelain tile brands, remains steadfast in its commitment to operating with processes that are even more aligned with industrial and planetary sustainability. Among the activities that the company has already carried out and which have enabled it to receive the Transparency Label, the new achievement was the result of its efforts to promote a new solution for the disposal of uniforms and personal protective equipment (PPE) used by its employees at the factory located in Campo Largo, Paraná.

In partnership with Uniformes do Bem, an entity that specializes in the reverse logistics of waste for the creation of new items, around 12 tons of materials discarded annually, in accordance with the LAMOSA Group's policy in Brazil, will be destined for recycling and the production of blankets, benches and pet feeders. "All the achievements we have made towards becoming a company that is increasingly aligned with the environment are beneficial for the planet," says Christie Silva Schulka, marketing manager for the LAMOSA Group in Brazil. According to her, the commitment is also based on inspiring other industries, from the most different sectors, to dedicate themselves to improving or innovating their processes.

Before the partnership, which began in March 2025, all the equipment was sent for co-processing, a practice permitted and environmentally accepted by law, where the waste was incinerated in industrial furnaces. Despite being a regular solution, the company's sustainability department aimed to find a new destination, as burning generates greenhouse gas emissions and prevents the recovery of the resources contained in the materials.

With the collaboration between the LAMOSA Group in Brazil and Uniforme do Bem, the approach has changed completely: instead of being destroyed, these materials no longer generate pollutants but give life to new products. "In addition, we promote the circular economy and increase the social impact of the process," says Christie.

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Mandatory proper disposal

Following the company's new internal rules, uniforms consisting of t-shirts, jackets, pants, aprons, shoes and jackets, as well as PPE such as gloves, ear protectors, sleeves and glasses, are renewed every six months, with the exception of ear protectors, which are replaced every four months due to the wear and tear that occurs more quickly. "All employees in the production, maintenance, supervision, coordination, laboratory, safety, health and environment teams receive this kit," says the marketing manager. According to her, the return of old items by those who receive them was already an existing demand, as this way it was possible to guarantee a means of disposal that has now become sustainable.

Since then, the items collected have been sent to the Uniforms for Good project, where they are sorted and decontaminated. Uniforms, in particular, are shredded and baled before being used to make fever blankets; rubber items, such as gloves and boots, are transformed into sub-base for playgrounds or gym mats, while plastic is used to make animal feeders, benches and garbage cans.

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"This partnership goes beyond the environmental aspect and represents a significant change in the LAMOSA Group's waste management hierarchy in Brazil. By replacing co-processing, we are moving from just treating waste to actually recycling it," says Christie.

It's worth noting that the production process adopted by Uniformes do Bem does not generate gas emissions into the atmosphere or consume water, making it even more efficient from an environmental point of view.

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Social impact

The partnership with Uniformes do Bem was chosen not only because of its socio-environmental aspect, but also because of its socio-economic impact. Committed to social action, the project has more than 90% of its workforce made up of women, as well as including people in situations of high social and economic vulnerability and people with disabilities (PCDs).

At the same time, GRUPO LAMOSA also reaffirms its commitment to the correct disposal of waste with commercial value, including buttons and zippers. These materials are de-characterized and donated to associations of waste pickers. "As well as reducing the environmental impact, this action also benefits several families in needy communities," says Christie. Another highlight is the fever blankets, part of which are donated to NGOs and social programs, further expanding the positive impact of the initiative.

A sustainable project put into practice every day

The partnership represents another step forward for the LAMOSA Group in Brazil in its sustainable practices. In 2024, the company received the Transparency Label, awarded by UGREEN, a consultancy specializing in sustainability, in recognition of the transparency of the actions mapped out during the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). The study measured the company's environmental impacts and guided the adoption of solutions to improve various indicators.

With this achievement, the LAMOSA Group in Brazil became the first company in the country - and a pioneer in the construction sector - to receive the seal, which attests to the transparency, dedication and truthfulness of its initiatives in favor of a more sustainable future.

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Source: Lamosa Group

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