Cátilo Cândido, CEO of Abralatas, is a seasoned public affairs leader with over two decades of experience in driving Brazil’s aluminium can industry toward sustainable growth. Recognised among Brazil’s most admired professionals, he champions innovation, circularity and low-carbon practices within the sector.
In an interview for “Sustainability & Recycling: Aluminium's Dual Commitment” e-Magazine, Cândido walked through Brazil’s remarkable aluminium can journey, from record-high recycling rates and renewable energy use to groundbreaking campaigns like LataCadabra, while highlighting Abralatas’ leadership in sustainability, market expansion and decarbonisation efforts shaping the industry’s future.
AL Circle: Brazil’s aluminium can industry is a global leader, especially with its use of recycled metal and renewable energy sources. Could you share what percentage of the energy used in aluminium can production in Brazil comes from renewable sources?
Cátilo Cândido: Brazil has maintained one of the highest aluminium can recycling rates in the world, with an average above 95% for over 15 years. This effort results in annual energy savings of around 5,000 GWh, equivalent to 1% of the country’s total electricity consumption.
The country also has one of the world’s most sustainable energy matrices, with the majority of its electricity coming from renewable sources. In addition to a high rate of renewable energy use and recycling, over 80% of the aluminium sheets used to produce cans in Brazil are made from recycled content.
These factors contribute to an average 70% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions throughout the life cycle of the aluminium can in Brazil.
AL Circle: What initiatives are in place to encourage aluminium can recycling among Brazilian residents? How much progress has been made in reducing the number of cans sent to landfills?
Cátilo Cândido: Over the past 15 years, Brazil has maintained an average aluminium can recycling rate above 95%. This achievement is the result of a collective effort involving consumers, manufacturers, waste pickers, recyclers, and public authorities.
Abralatas also promotes campaigns to encourage recycling, such as Cada Lata Conta («Every Can Counts»), which shows the public that by correctly disposing of a single can, each person helps keep aluminium in circulation indefinitely, without loss of quality. In February of this year (2025), LataCadabra campaign further reinforced —in a fun and light-hearted way— the sustainable and practical attributes of aluminium beverage cans.
With a 100% digital media strategy, LataCadabra was featured on platforms such as YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Google, TikTok, Spotify, and Equality. TikTok stood out as the platform with the highest engagement and the main source of traffic to the campaign’s landing page, which recorded around 2 million visits.
AL Circle: Do you view the US tariff on aluminium cans as a potential threat to the South American aluminium can market? Do you anticipate this could lead to a rise in can prices and, consequently, a decline in consumption?
Cátilo Cândido: We do not see the US tariff as a direct threat to the South American aluminium can market. In addition to strong local production, countries like China, South Korea, and Germany also supply the raw materials used in aluminium can manufacturing, and the choice of sourcing ultimately lies with each individual company. In this context, the US tariff may even represent an opportunity for the broader market.
It’s important to note that Abralatas advocates for public policies that promote the competitiveness and sustainability of the national industry, ensuring that the sector continues to grow in a balanced manner and in line with market demands.
To dive deeper into the complete interview, click here.
