In the Industry – Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises category, Vasap received the ApexBrasil + Exame Award: Best in International Business 2025, being recognized for its work in producing planters, furniture, and accessories made from 100% recycled plastic.
The result directly reflects the company’s internationalization strategy, in which it has invested increased effort since 2023, counting on Think Plastic Brazil to assist in strengthening its global presence. Think Plastic Brazil is a portfolio of solutions for the converted plastics sector in the internationalization process for target markets, carried out through a partnership between ApexBrasil (Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency) and the Brazilian Plastic Institute (INP).
“In recent years, Vasap has secured new markets and significantly expanded its export performance. The results are evident in the increase of exported value, the number of items sent abroad, the share of exports in the company’s revenue, and the number of new markets served,” highlights Carlos Moreira, Brazilian Plastic Institute Executive Director and Think Plastic Brazil CPO.
Vasap exports to 17 countries, having consolidated strategic markets and opened new fronts of operation during the period evaluated for the award, meeting all growth criteria established for the category. Following a solid set of initiatives, the company adopts the use of multilingual materials, facilitating customer acquisition and strengthening the brand abroad. Today, Vasap has catalogs in English and Spanish, bilingual technical data sheets, product tags in multiple languages, corporate presentations for international distributors, and media kits for negotiations and trade fairs.
Over the last year, the company invested in campaigns, trade fairs, and actions focused on the international audience. It participated in international design, gardening, and decoration fairs, matchmaking sessions promoted by ApexBrasil and partner institutions, and networking with distributors and agents. These efforts expanded Vasap’s global visibility and increased access to new markets.
Diversifying its portfolio, the company also expanded the lines and models sent abroad, with collections signed by renowned designers, bringing Brazilian cultural narratives and design to the forefront. Inspired by indigenous peoples, popular culture, and affective references of the Brazilian home, the portfolio includes the Cumbuca (Rosenbaum + O Fetiche) and Karajá (André Lenza) lines and the Recôncavo Collection (Maurício Arruda). Vasap stands out for working with 100% recycled polyethylene, sourced from cooperatives and independent waste pickers, meeting global environmental requirements, offering a clear differentiation from competitors, and opening markets by leveraging sustainability.
In addition to these commitments, Vasap developed packaging compatible with international logistics standards, adapted its internal processes for export, started negotiations with distributors abroad, and expanded its production capacity to meet international demands. Strategic partnerships also represent an important part of the company’s export and internationalization process, achieving a solid, professional, and scalable model.
Carlos Moreira
Brazilian Plastic Institute Executive Director and Think Plastic Brazil CPO
About Think Plastic Brazil
Think Plastic Brazil started its activities with 38 companies and, over the last 20 years, has expanded its participation to more than 250 companies. During this period, the Portfolio promoted the participation of 4,773 companies in the industry in 240 projects specifically for Trade Promotion, resulting in 64,366 meetings. The economic impact was significant, with more than US$1.247 billion in business generated and a total investment of US$12.338 million, achieving an impressive ROI of US$101.04 for every dollar invested.
For those interested in buying from Brazil and contacting Brazilian companies associated with Think Plastic Brazil directly, please contact cristina.sacramento@thinkplasticbrazil.com and daniela.ornelas@thinkplasticbrazil.com via email or visit the website (https://thinkplasticbrazil.com/en/home-en/). Think Plastic Brazil is a non-profit, non-commissioned organization that can facilitate your direct contact with Brazilian producers.
About INP
Founded in 1989, the Brazilian Plastic Institute – INP arises amid the process of globalization and the need to make the plastic market more competitive internationally. Its strength and representativeness are the results of the union of the Brazilian Processed Plastic and Recycling Industry (ABIPLAST), the Brazilian Association of the Chemical Industry (ABIQUIM), and the Union of Synthetic Resin Industries in the State of São Paulo (SIRESP).
As a sectoral technological body, the INP’s is to be the focal point for the entire plastics production chain in Brazil. To this end, the body maintains an extensive workforce qualification program, promotes access to the most modern technologies, especially for small and medium-sized companies, and develops Technical Standards so that products with better quality be manufactured.
About ApexBrasil
The Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (ApexBrasil) promotes Brazilian products and services abroad and attracts foreign investments to strategic industries of the Brazilian economy. To reach its goals, ApexBrasil carries out diversified trade promotion actions aimed at promoting exports and valuing Brazilian products and services abroad, such as prospective and trade missions, business roundtables, support for the participation of Brazilian companies in major international fairs, and visits by foreign buyers and influencers to learn about the Brazilian productive structure, among other business platforms that are also focused on strengthening “Brazil” as a brand.
The agency also acts in a coordinated manner with public and private actors to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) to Brazil, focusing on strategic sectors for the development of the competitiveness of Brazilian companies and the country.
