What Empacar does

Empacar S.A. (legal name Empresa de Envases, Papeles y Cartones S.A.) is a privately held Bolivian packaging manufacturer and recycler founded in 1977 and headquartered in the Parque Industrial of Santa Cruz de la Sierra. The company operates eight co-located production divisions covering recycled raw materials (PET flakes, R-PET, HDPE, LDPE, PP resins), PET preforms and bottles, corrugated cardboard, Kraft paper bags, PP/PE injection molding, rotomolding, thermoforming, and PET sheets. Its core technology is a closed-loop circular-economy model in which post-consumer PET, HDPE, LDPE, PP, and corrugated cardboard are collected through a community network of 70+ municipalities, 10,000+ base collector families, schools, condominiums, and institutional partners, then shredded, washed, and pelletized back into food-grade resin (FDA-approved) or new packaging. Advanced equipment includes a Starlinger rPET line at 1.7 tons/hour and Husky injection molding machines with hybrid GAS-ELECTRICITY drives that reduce energy intensity by up to 42%.

The company generates revenue across multiple streams: direct B2B sales of industrial packaging to food & beverage (EMBOL among named customers), retail, agriculture, and poultry companies; recycled resin and flake sales; logistics and warehouse rentals through Empacar Servicios across 56,000+ sqm; fuel and energy sales through Empacar Energy (diesel ULSD, gasoline, up to 8M liter storage); retail and franchise revenue through Empacar Express (1,000+ SKUs, two company-owned stores, franchise rollout across all nine Bolivian departments); and emerging carbon credit revenue through the CarbonX biochar business unit (305,000 tonnes of CORCs pre-sold to Altitude under Puro.earth certification, first credits projected for 2027). Marketing is a hybrid of B2B field sales, community-led collection programs, sustainability-driven CSR campaigns (Tapatón, Tapitas x los Chicos), and digital channels. Empacar is a subsidiary of Grupo Kuljis, holds ISO 9001:2015, FSSC 22000, and IBMETRO certifications, and has been ranked #1 in sustainable packaging in Bolivia by Merco for two consecutive years.

Name

Empacar

Legal name

Empresa de Envases, Papeles y Cartones S.A.

Website

https://empacar.com.bo

Company type

Private

Founded year

1977

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Empacar S.A. is a Bolivian packaging manufacturer and recycler operating eight production divisions in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, serving food & beverage, retail, agricultural, and industrial customers across Bolivia with closed-loop PET recycling and emerging biochar carbon removal.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Packaging Manufacturing

SIC

Papers & Allied Products (2600), Plastics Products, Nec (3089), Paper Mills (2621)

akta.pro primary industry

Recycled Paper Bags & Sacks (IMAMAKAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Post-Consumer Plastic Collection & Sorting (MRF/PRF, Bale Supply) (EUAIAKAA)

Keywords

• Plastic packaging manufacturing
• Recycled PET materials
• Corrugated cardboard boxes
• Sustainable packaging solutions
• Circular economy packaging

Headquarters

HQ city

Santa Cruz De La Sierra

HQ country

Bolivia

HQ region

Latin America

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Industrial Packaging Product Sales: Revenue from manufacturing and selling packaging products across eight divisions: PET bottles/preforms, corrugated cardboard boxes, Kraft paper bags, PP/PE injection molded articles, rotomolded containers, thermoformed containers, PET sheets, and recycled resins. Products sold directly to food & beverage, industrial, agricultural, and retail companies.
2. Recycling Services & Material Sales: Collection and processing of post-consumer PET, HDPE, LDPE, PP, and corrugated cardboard. Purchases recyclable materials from schools, institutions, condominiums, and base collectors, processing them into flakes and resins for resale.
3. Logistics & Real Estate Rental: Empacar Servicios subsidiary rents warehouses (over 56,000 sqm), offices, and blending tanks to industrial companies in the Parque Industrial. Services include weighing scales, fire suppression, 24/7 loading/unloading, WiFi, utilities, and parking.
4. Empacar Express Franchise Revenue: Revenue from franchise model where independent operators open Empacar Express retail stores. Stores offer over 1,000 packaging SKUs including boxes, bags, and containers for office, gastronomy, home, transport, and industry use. Two owned stores operating in Santa Cruz.
5. CarbonX Carbon Removal Credits: New revenue stream from CarbonX business unit: selling certified CO2 removal certificates (CORCs) from biochar production under Puro.earth standard. Long-term agreement signed with Altitude for over 305,000 tonnes of carbon certificates. First credits projected for 2027.
6. Fuel & Energy Sales (Empacar Energy): Empacar Energy subsidiary sells diesel ULSD and gasoline at a station in Parque Industrial Santa Cruz, with daily price updates based on international benchmarks. Infrastructure supports up to 15 simultaneous cistern deliveries and 8 million liters of storage.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Empacar S.A. is a multi-divisional sustainable packaging manufacturer and recycler operating eight production divisions: PET preforms and bottles, corrugated cardboard packaging, Kraft paper bags, PP/PE injection articles, rotomolded containers, thermoformed containers, PET sheets, and recycled raw materials (PET, HDPE, LDPE, PP flakes and resins). The company runs a closed-loop circular economy collecting post-consumer waste through community programs and converting it into food-grade packaging sold to food & beverage, retail, agricultural, and industrial customers.

Product overview

Empacar S.A. is a multi-divisional sustainable packaging and manufacturing company operating across 8 production divisions: División Reciclado (recycled raw materials including PET flakes and R-PET resins), División PET (preforms and bottles via injection/blow molding), División Corrugado (corrugated cardboard boxes for various applications), División Bolsas Kraft (customizable paper bags), División Inyección PP-PE (injected plastic articles), División Rotomoldeo (rotomolded containers), División Termoformado (thermoformed containers), and División Láminas (plastic sheets). The company also offers service divisions including Empacar Express (retail packaging supermarket with franchises), Empacar Servicios (industrial logistics and warehouse rental), Empacar Energy (fuel supply), and Arena Makro Parque (event venue). The product portfolio spans recycled materials, rigid plastic containers, flexible packaging, and point-of-sale displays, unified by a closed-loop circular economy model where collected materials are recycled back into new packaging products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CarbonX: New business unit focused on carbon removal and biochar production for the voluntary carbon market, launched March 2026.
• Empacar Express
• Empacar Energy
• Tapitas x los Chicos
• Arena Makro Parque

Products and services

• Recycled PET flakes and resins (División Reciclado) 100% recycled PET, HDPE, LDPE, and PP raw materials (flakes and resins) obtained from post-consumer PET bottles, soft plastic, and caps. Includes FDA food-grade ECOPET (R-PET) resin. Sold to plastic product manufacturers as input feedstock.
• PET preforms and bottles (División PET) PET preforms (PCO 28/38/48 MM, oil, short-finish) and finished PET bottles (0.350L-20L) for beverages, water, oil, agrochemicals, and cleaning products. Manufactured via in-house injection and blow molding using resin with recycled plastic percentage.
• Corrugated cardboard boxes (División Corrugado) Self-assembling corrugated cardboard boxes (type B and C wave, double-wall) for primary or secondary packaging of any product type. Range includes pizza boxes, cake boxes, file boxes, wine boxes, moving boxes, pallets, shelves, baby chick boxes, pet houses, trash bins, and special shapes. Custom printing and minimum orders from 2,000-3,000 units.
• Kraft paper bags (División Bolsas Kraft) Customizable Kraft paper bags with up to 4-color printing, in different paper qualities and colors. Available with cord handle, flat handle, kidney shape, or no handle. Minimum order 5,000 units. Used in delivery, commerce, and gastronomy.
• Injection-molded PP/PE articles (División Inyección PP-PE) Plastic packaging and injected articles in PET, PP, and PE including industrial buckets (20L down to 0.9L), baskets for bottles and produce, multi-use crates, plastic stools, ergonomic school desks, promotional banding products, and chairs/tables. Manufactured using Husky hybrid gas-electric injection molding equipment.
• Rotomolded containers (División Rotomoldeo) Plastic articles manufactured through rotomolding process including 60L planters, 60L/120L/240L outdoor trash containers with wheels, and four-entry hygienic pallets. Targeted at outdoor, industrial, and waste management applications.
• Thermoformed containers (División Termoformado) Plastic containers in PET, PS, or PP produced via heat and pressure thermoforming. Includes ice cream containers (1L and 1/2L), R-PET egg cartons in 12/18/30-unit formats, and 250ml containers with lids. Used in food, dairy, and poultry markets.
• Plastic sheets (División Láminas) PET, PS, and PP sheets in white, black, and transparent colors, with thickness from 0.3 to 2mm and coil width up to 900mm. Ideal for food plastic containers and downstream thermoforming.
• Empacar Express (retail packaging franchise) Packaging supermarket concept offering over 1,000 packaging SKUs (boxes, bags, containers, party supplies) for sale from a single unit. Operates through company-owned stores and a franchise network with zone exclusivity, training, marketing, and centralized supply. Includes online store at empacarexpress.com.bo.
• Empacar Servicios (industrial logistics and warehouse rental) Logistics solutions in the Parque Industrial offering warehouse rental (over 56,000 sqm), office rental, weighing services, blending tanks, and fire protection systems. Includes 24/7 loading/unloading, WiFi, utilities, and parking. Targets industrial and logistics tenants.
• Empacar Energy (fuel and energy services) Integrated energy solutions for industrial fuel supply including diesel ULSD and gasoline sales at a station in Parque Industrial Santa Cruz, with daily price updates based on international benchmarks. Infrastructure supports up to 15 simultaneous cistern deliveries and 8 million liters of storage.
• CarbonX (verified biochar carbon removal certificates) New business unit producing Puro.earth-certified CO2 Removal Certificates (CORCs) from biochar via pyrolysis technology. A long-term agreement with Altitude covers over 305,000 tonnes of certificates. Includes the Cula digital monitoring platform integrated with production sensors for auditable carbon data.
• Arena Makro Parque (event venue) Event venue at Av. Paraguay and 4th ring road in Santa Cruz, suitable for concerts, theater, conventions, and private events with 15x10m stage and professional equipment.

Quantifiable outcome

• 76,008.96 tCO2e avoided emissions in 2024 through recycling operations
• +9 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature10 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and flagship.

• Puro.earthcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 March 2026Puro.earth provides the carbon removal standard and platform for Empacar's CarbonX biochar unit. Their CORC (CO2 Removal Certificate) certification ensures that Empacar's carbon removal credits meet the highest international verification standards, enabling connection with global carbon buyers such as Microsoft, Shopify, and Zurich Insurance.
• Cula TechnologiescoreTechnology or Integration · 1 March 2026Cula provides the digital monitoring platform that integrates with Empacar's production systems and sensors to automatically capture and structure carbon removal operational data. This ensures transparent, auditable records from day one of operations, critical for Puro.earth certification and carbon credit issuance.
• BioFluxcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2026BioFlux serves as technical advisor accompanying Empacar from plant design through international market preparation. They specialize in biochar carbon removal project design, certification, and commercialization, supporting Empacar in becoming one of the most ambitious biochar carbon removal platforms in Latin America.
• Boliviana de Aviación (BOA)minorOthers · 1 January 2026BOA provides free transportation of collected bottle caps from all departments to Santa Cruz for the Tapatón campaign, enabling nationwide participation in the cancer support initiative.
• BFC (Frigoríficos BFC)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2025Strategic alliance for waste management in San Ignacio de Velasco municipality. BFC provides adequate spaces for base collectors and properly segregates all plastic and cardboard waste. Empacar supplies hydraulic press, big bags, uniforms, and training. Estimated 4-8 tonnes of cardboard and plastics recycled monthly by 19 base collectors.
• Club BolívarflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2024Strategic alliance signed March 2024 to promote environmental education and sports. Empacar supplies furniture made from 100% recycled corrugated cardboard for Club Bolívar's Santa Cruz headquarters and implements educational programs in the club's football schools teaching children about recycling and circular economy.
• KPMGminorOthers · 1 January 2023KPMG manages Empacar's ethics hotline (Línea Ética), covering 12 ethical principles including function irregularities, theft, workplace harassment, sexual harassment, fraud, and conflicts of interest.
• Nacional SegurosflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Alliance for life and accident insurance for base collectors, covering death (up to $3,000), total/permanent disability (up to $3,000), and medical expenses (up to $350). Insurance valid at any clinic nationwide. Over 1,000 collectors insured in the first edition, with coverage extended to their families.
• Fundación Tapitas x los ChicosflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Joint initiative with EMBOL collecting plastic bottle caps to fund cancer treatment and medical supplies for children at Hospital Oncológico in Santa Cruz. Each kilogram of caps converted to cash for the foundation. Over 90.9 million caps recycled since 2018.
• EMBOLflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018EMBOL co-leads the Tapatón campaign with Empacar and Fundación Tapitas x los Chicos, collecting plastic bottle caps to fund pediatric cancer treatment. Also a major customer purchasing PET bottles, preforms, and closures from Empacar.
• Cámara Nacional de Industrias (CNI)minorOthersNational industry chamber that awards the 'Reconocimiento a la Resiliencia' and 'Industrias con Impacto' recognitions. Carlos Limpias serves as Treasurer on the Cámara de Polímeros directory.
• Cámara de PolímerosminorOthersIndustry association for polymer companies in Bolivia. Carlos Limpias (Empacar) serves as Treasurer on the directory for 2022-2026. Arturo Becerra Céspedes serves as President.

Scale indicators17 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Broad incumbents

• Smurfit Kappa: Global paper-based and corrugated packaging leader with significant Latin American presence. Directly comparable to Empacar's corrugated cardboard and Kraft paper bag divisions in product format and customer base.
• Pactiv Evergreen: Large North American food and beverage packaging manufacturer with paper and plastic products including recycled-content lines. Comparable in thermoforming, recycled-material use, and food-grade packaging scope.
• Sealed Air: Global packaging company with food, protective, and sustainable packaging solutions. Broader incumbent comparable in sustainability focus and packaging manufacturing, though serving different product niches.
• ALPLA Group: Austrian-headquartered global rigid plastic packaging producer (PET, HDPE, recycling). Relevant broader incumbent comparable to Empacar's PET and rPET operations, with deeper R&D and global footprint.
• Carvajal Empaques: Colombian conglomerate's packaging division producing corrugated, paper, plastics, and flexible packaging across Latin America. Comparable in scope and multi-format approach to Empacar's 8-division portfolio, though at a much larger scale.

Direct peers

• Enka de Colombia: Colombian PET and synthetic-fiber manufacturer with significant PET resin recycling operations. Highly comparable to Empacar as a vertically integrated PET recycler and plastics producer serving Latin American FMCG customers.
• Plastilene Group: Colombian plastic packaging manufacturer producing films, bags, and rigid containers for food, industrial, and consumer markets. Directly comparable to Empacar's plastic injection, rotomolding, and thermoforming divisions in product format and customer type.
• Grupo Phoenix: US-headquartered rigid plastic packaging manufacturer with extensive Latin American operations, producing PET preforms, bottles, and containers. Closest functional peer to Empacar's PET preform and bottle division, serving beverage and FMCG customers.
• Envases Universales: Latin American rigid plastic packaging producer (PET, HDPE, recycled-content containers) with operations across Mexico, Central, and South America. Comparable to Empacar in product mix and circular-economy positioning in food and beverage packaging.

Emerging players

• Carbios: French biotech company developing enzymatic PET recycling technology and biorecycling partnerships. Emerging player comparable to Empacar's circular-economy ambitions and FDA-grade rPET positioning, though operating at a different stage and geography.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCUo3PQaDYZm7SmrjOBDz1Ag
• Facebookfacebook.com/empacarbolivia
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/empacarbolivia
• Instagraminstagram.com/empacarbolivia
• TikToktiktok.com/@empacarbolivia

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Empacar