APOVE, the Portuguese Assn. for the Recovery of Packaging, launches as new EPR system; APOVE is operated via Spanish firm Heura, with the mission of offering efficient solutions for the collection, recycling, recovery of industrial and professional waste

May 19, 2025 (CE Noticias Financieras) –

The Portuguese industrial sector now has APOVE - Associação Portuguesa para a Valorização de Embalagens ( Portuguese Association for the Recovery of Packaging ), a new Extended Producer Responsibility System (SCRAP) that was created with the aim of making it easier for companies to manage their packaging waste efficiently and sustainably, in line with the new Portuguese and European legislation that comes into force in January 2025 .

APOVE is a packaging SCRAP that arrives in Portugal through the Spanish company Heura, with the mission of offering efficient solutions for the collection, recycling and recovery of industrial and professional waste, in accordance with the standards required by the European Union and Portuguese legislation.

APOVE is thus promoted by the Spanish company Heura, which has experience in industrial and commercial waste management, and already has the interest of multinationals based in Portugal .

The Portuguese Association for the Recovery of Packaging (APOVE) aims to become "a key player in the new Portuguese regulatory scenario - which requires all packaging to be managed by an Extended Producer Responsibility System (SCRAP) - and also within the European Union , which imposes the collection, recycling or reuse of packaging waste, including professional waste, which until now has been managed directly by companies".

"Our aim is to offer Portuguese and international companies operating in the country an integrated solution that makes it easier for them to adapt to these requirements in an efficient and sustainable way," says José Guaita , Heura's chairman.

Portuguese legislation also obliges foreign manufacturers who sell packaged products in Portugal to join a national SCRAP and appoint an authorized representative if they do not have Portuguese tax identification.

In this context, APOVE is positioned as "the solution for industrial companies wishing to delegate the management of packaging waste", as it will be responsible for "all operational and financial aspects in accordance with current legislation", says Guaita.

In Spain , Heura has consolidated its leadership in environmental management through its participation in AEVAE, "a SCRAP for agricultural packaging, and ENVALORA, focused on sectors such as chemicals and industry". Together, the packaging SCRAPs managed or supported by Heura would have more than 2,300 companies in Spain by the end of 2024, the company reveals.

APOVE has already begun to attract the interest of several multinationals in the agro-industrial sector with a presence in Portugal . Among the first companies in the process of joining are: Atlántica Agrícola (fertilizers and biopesticides), YARA (fertilizers), WACKER Chemie (special chemicals), SQM (fertilizers and lithium), LIDA (agrochemicals), LABIN (plant nutrition), JISA (fertilizers), Herogra (fertilizers), Haifa Group (fertilizers), Daymsa (biostimulants), URSA (insulating materials for construction) and Life Biofertilizers (biofertilizers).

"The implementation of APOVE in Portugal represents a significant step forward in optimizing the management of industrial and agricultural waste, ensuring compliance with the new European regulations," stresses Heura's chairman.

The Portuguese packaging market is significant, as more than 500,000 tons of waste from all fractions are recycled, with recycling rates on the rise. Although SPV and Novo Verde manage most of the domestic volume, the inclusion of professional packaging in 2025 will add thousands of tons to the system.

In this sense, "APOVE intends to channel a substantial part of the tons of industrial and commercial packaging that will enter the Portuguese system, complementing the work of SPV and Novo Verde in meeting environmental objectives," says Guaita.

"Based in Valencia , Heura is expanding its responsible and sustainable management model to drive the transition to a greener and more efficient economy in the Iberian Peninsula . The expansion into Portugal with APOVE reinforces its commitment to the circular economy and compliance with European environmental standards," reads the statement.