Trash: A Key Asset for Today’s and Tomorrow’s Businesses
Twenty years ago, the idea that waste could become the business of the future seemed unthinkable. But today, it’s a proven reality. Some companies are led by true visionaries—and this week’s article highlights the work of a company that has been part of Colombia’s business landscape for over 50 years and now proudly holds the title of the largest PET recycling company in South America, and one of the top eight worldwide.
We’re talking about Enka, based in the department of Antioquia, Colombia.
The company was founded in 1964 by Akzo Nobel, a global leader in synthetic fiber production. At the time, Enka formed strategic alliances with companies in the textile industry to manufacture and commercialize resins and synthetic fibers, helping to establish and grow the industry in Colombia.
Over the past two decades, Enka has undergone a major transformation—evolving from its original textile-based production into the development of high-value, specialized products. This shift has been driven by significant investments in technology and a strong focus on innovation, enabling the company to offer a far more diverse product portfolio than it had just a decade ago.
Today, Enka is Colombia’s most important recycling company, and its entire strategy is built around the principles of the circular economy. An impressive 54% of its products are made from recycled raw materials, primarily post-consumer PET plastic bottles. This achievement places Enka as the number one plastic bottle recycler in the country—and the most prominent in South America.
Additionally, Enka is the leading manufacturer of nylon 6 tire cord fabric in Latin America, supplying major global brands in the automotive industry such as Bridgestone, Goodyear, and Continental. It is also the largest producer of synthetic fibers and filaments in the Andean region.
Enka’s Leadership Remains Committed to Innovation, Sustainability, and Advanced Engineering
One of the company’s main challenges to stay ahead in the market is achieving a goal of exporting 50% of its products. In addition, Enka aims to become a regional leader in high-value-added recycling—setting the standard not just in Colombia, but across Latin America.
Currently, Enka operates the largest PET bottle recycling plant in South America. The company has bold expansion plans to double its daily recycling capacity from 3 million to 6 million bottles per day. This major upgrade will solidify Enka’s position as one of the world’s leading PET transformation companies. The expansion involves an investment of $40 million USD and will enable the production of 100% recycled plastic bottles suitable for food and beverage packaging, with the potential for multiple recycling cycles.
One particularly innovative use for recycled plastic bottles is the production of geotextiles—the fabrics used in road and highway construction. Traditionally, these materials were made from petroleum-based products, which are highly polluting. Enka’s process uses green and amber bottles as a sustainable alternative.
Another breakthrough use of recycled materials is in performance textiles for the sportswear industry. These include jerseys for national teams around the world—designed to be lighter, more breathable, and optimized for athletic performance through advanced engineering.
And if you’re wondering what happens to the labels and caps from those bottles—Enka’s plant has that covered too. Through a specialized process, they are turned into polyethylene pellets, which are then used to make flexible packaging for powdered detergents.
It’s truly impressive what recycled plastic can become when placed in the right hands—and powered by cutting-edge technology.
Let us know—did this article surprise you? Were you amazed at how many new lives a simple plastic bottle from your local store can live?