Company maintains recycling as a strategic pillar of growth and sustainability
Valgroup, supported by Think Plastic Brazil — the portfolio of solutions for the converted plastics sector in the internationalization process, carried out through a partnership between ApexBrasil (Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency) and INP (Brazilian Plastic Institute) — is a benchmark in the production, conversion, and recycling of plastics, and announces the sale of its 30% minority stake in Extremadura TorrePet S.L. to Buenavista Infrastructure. Veolia Spain remains the majority shareholder of the company, holding 70% of the share capital.
Founded by Valgroup in 2005, TorrePet is recognized as one of the leading European benchmarks in PET recycling, operating across the entire rPET value chain and running Spain’s only bottle-to-bottle processing facility. Located in Torremejía, in the Extremadura region, the plant has the capacity to process approximately 50,000 metric tons of post-consumer PET per year, converting it into food-grade recycled resin for the manufacturing of new packaging. The company, which had already sold 70% of its stake to Veolia in 2019, now concludes its exit from the business through the transaction with Buenavista Infrastructure.
The operation is part of Valgroup’s ongoing strategy of portfolio optimization and capital allocation into assets with higher integration into its global industrial operations.
The decision does not represent any change in the company’s vision regarding the potential of recycling or the growing importance of the recycled PET market. On the contrary, circular economy and the development of sustainable solutions continue to occupy a central position in Valgroup’s growth strategy.
The assessment that led to the divestment of the stake is related to the industrial alignment of the operation within the company’s European platform. Valgroup currently does not have preform production in Spain, a factor that limits the capture of operational and commercial synergies typically associated with PET recycling operations, unlike what occurs in Italy, where the company operates integrated recycling and preform production facilities.
Lucas Geronimi, Executive Director at Valgroup, states: “Recycling remains a strategic business for Valgroup and continues to be one of the main pillars of our vision for the future. This transaction demonstrates our portfolio management discipline and our commitment to directing investments toward assets with stronger alignment with the company’s industrial strategy. We are proud of the journey built alongside TorrePet and the role we played in strengthening one of Europe’s most relevant PET recycling platforms. We are confident that the company will continue to expand its contribution to the circular economy alongside its new partners.”
“Valgroup’s move reflects the maturity and strategic vision that the Brazilian converted plastics industry has been consolidating in the global market. As a member of Think Plastic Brazil, the company demonstrates excellent discipline in capital allocation to strengthen its most competitive and sustainable positions. We actively support actions such as this, which refine the international footprint of our companies and reinforce the sector’s continuous commitment to innovation and circular economy,” highlights Carlos Moreira, Brazilian Plastic Institute Executive Director and Think Plastic Brazil CPO.
For Buenavista Infrastructure, the acquisition represents the seventh and final investment made through the Buenavista Infraestructuras Iberia I fund and marks the manager’s entry into the waste treatment and recovery segment, driven by the advancement of European Union regulatory targets and requirements regarding plastics recycling, particularly for food-grade applications.
Commenting on the transaction, Victoriano López-Pinto, Managing Partner at Buenavista Infrastructure, declared: “With the incorporation of TorrePet into our portfolio, we are acquiring a unique asset thanks to its technological leadership and its ability to produce food-grade rPET in a market undergoing significant transformation. The partnership with Veolia, a global leader in environmental services, represents a clear opportunity to continue growing in a sector that will help shape the future of sustainable infrastructure in Europe. This seventh investment also marks the successful conclusion of the fund’s investment period and demonstrates the continued trust of our investors, who made it possible to build a diversified and resilient portfolio prepared to address the new challenges of sustainable infrastructure.”
Valgroup will remain focused on strengthening its recycling operations and developing solutions that expand the circularity of materials, investing in initiatives aligned with its long-term strategy and the needs of its clients and markets.
Carlos Moreira
Brazilian Plastic Institute Executive Director and Think Plastic Brazil CPO
About Think Plastic Brazil
A benchmark in the internationalization of the Brazilian plastics industry, Think Plastic Brazil began its activities with 38 companies and, over nearly 25 years, expanded its participation to nearly 300 companies, consolidating itself as one of the country’s most enduring and consistent sectoral portfolios. During this period, the Portfolio promoted 5,468 participations of companies in the sector across 296 Trade Promotion projects — including international trade fairs, buyer projects, commercial and prospective missions, and individual projects —, resulting in 78,500 business meetings and taking Brazilian products to more than 50 countries across five continents.
The economic impact was significant, with more than US$ 1.556 billion in business generated and a total investment of US$ 14.901 million, reaching an impressive GEI (Generation of Export Index) of US$ 104.46 in business for every dollar invested, a result that proves the model’s efficiency and the return on the trade promotion strategy for the sector.
For those interested in joining the Portfolio, please contact Richard Assis by email at richard.assis@thinkplasticbrazil.com or visit the website thinkplasticbrazil.com.
About INP
Founded in 1989, the Brazilian Plastic Institute (INP) was established amid the globalization process and the need to make the plastics market more competitive internationally. Its strength and representativeness stem from the union of the Union of Synthetic Resin Industries in the State of São Paulo (SIRESP) and the Brazilian Plastics Industry Association (ABIPLAST).
As a sectoral technological organization, the INP’s objective is to be the cornerstone for the entire plastics production chain in Brazil. To this end, the entity maintains an extensive workforce qualification program, promotes access to the most modern technologies, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises, and develops Technical Standards for manufacturing higher-quality products.
About ApexBrasil
The Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (ApexBrasil) works to promote Brazilian products and services abroad and attract foreign investment to strategic sectors of the Brazilian economy.
To achieve these goals, ApexBrasil carries out diversified trade promotion actions aimed at fostering exports and enhancing the value of Brazilian products and services abroad, such as prospective and trade missions, business rounds, support for the participation of Brazilian companies in major international trade fairs, and visits by foreign buyers and opinion makers to become familiar with Brazil’s productive structure, among other business platforms designed to strengthen the Brazil brand.
The Agency also works in coordination with public and private stakeholders to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) to Brazil, focusing on strategic sectors for developing the competitiveness of Brazilian companies and the country.
About Valgroup
With half a century of history, Valgroup remains at the forefront of the plastics sector, integrating recycling and advanced manufacturing. Its global footprint, connecting production units across different countries, underpins the company’s commitment to elevating social well-being through sustainable, high-performance packaging solutions.
About TorrePet
TorrePet was the first company in the Iberian Peninsula dedicated to PET recycling and is considered a European benchmark in the production of food-grade rPET. The company operates across all stages of the PET recycling chain and runs Spain’s only plant equipped with bottle-to-bottle technology.
About Buenavista Infrastructure
Buenavista Infrastructure is the infrastructure investment platform of Buenavista Equity Partners, an independent asset manager founded in 1996 and specialized in infrastructure, energy, environment, and mobility assets. Through the Buenavista Infraestructuras Iberia I fund, the company completed its seventh investment with the acquisition of the stake in TorrePet.
