Repapel

What Repapel does

Repapel is a Uruguayan civil association (asociación civil) founded in 2004 and headquartered in Montevideo, dedicated to environmental education and the circular economy. The organization runs a community-led model in which corporate sponsors classify and donate their paper and cardboard waste; Repapel coordinates logistics with seven recycling partners and a factory in Pando to convert the recovered material into school supplies, which are then distributed to public schools participating in its programs. As of 2025, the network comprised 49 educational centers, 175+ corporate sponsors, and a core team of approximately 9 people.

The core product surface includes Papel Repapel (100% recycled paper sold in A4, ¼ W, and Cartulina sizes through Infantozzi Materiales retail and online), the annual Calendario Ambiental Repapel, and a broader line of recycled school supplies (notebooks, folders, reams, cardstock). Programs include Mi Escuela Clasifica (waste-management system for schools, active since 2015), Repapel Oeste (regional expansion to western Uruguay), and Escuela Circular (audiovisual series co-produced with DirecTV and Cielomoto and broadcast across Latin America). The organization also publishes a Toolkit Repapel communication guide and a Catálogo de Capacitaciones training catalog for sponsor organizations.

Repapel's business model mixes three revenue streams: corporate sponsorships and donations from companies participating in the waste-classification program, sale of Papel Repapel consumer paper products through a single retail channel, and government partnerships with intendencias and ministries supporting environmental education. Annual paper recovery scaled from 533,742 kg in 2023 to 646,651 kg in 2025, against a stated 1,000,000 kg/year goal. The model is operationally a logistics-and-community coordination platform rather than a technology product, with no AI/ML or software-as-a-service components.

Name

Repapel

Legal name

Repapel

Website

https://repapel.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Repapel is a Uruguayan nonprofit civil association founded in 2004 that connects corporate paper-waste donors with public schools, recycling the material into school supplies and delivering environmental education to 49 schools and 175+ corporate sponsors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Education and Paper Recycling Services

NAICS

Materials Recovery Facilities (562920), Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Sanitary Services (4950), Services-Educational Services (8200), Refuse Systems (4953)

akta.pro primary industry

Waste, Recycling & Sustainability Services (EDAEAAAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Waste Management & Environmental Compliance (Hazardous, Universal, Medical/Bio) (EDAEAKAJ)

Keywords

• Paper recycling services
• Environmental education programs
• Circular economy solutions
• Recycled school supplies
• Corporate waste recovery

Headquarters

HQ city

Montevideo

HQ country

Uruguay

HQ region

Latin America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Corporate Sponsorships and Donations: Companies and organizations pay to participate in the Repapel program by classifying and donating their paper waste. These corporate sponsors enable the organization's operations and environmental education programs.
2. Recycled Paper Products: Sale of 100% recycled paper products (Papel Repapel) in various sizes, sold through Infantozzi Materiales retail stores and directly to consumers.
3. Government Partnerships: Support from government entities including Intendencia de Montevideo, Intendencia de Soriano, and the Ministry of Environment for environmental education initiatives.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Repapel is a Uruguayan civil association that recovers paper and cardboard waste from corporate sponsors and channels the materials into recycled school supplies (notebooks, folders, reams, cardstock) and a commercial recycled paper brand (Papel Repapel). The organization delivers environmental education programs to more than 49 public schools across Uruguay and coordinates the logistics network that transports recovered waste to recycling facilities. It supplements these activities with audiovisual content (Escuela Circular), digital learning tools, an annual environmental calendar, training for sponsor organizations, and direct engagement in classrooms.

Product overview

Repapel is a civil organization (ONG) in Uruguay dedicated to Environmental Education and Circular Economy. Its core offerings include Papel Repapel (100% recycled paper products), Calendario Ambiental Repapel (annual environmental calendars), and recycled school supplies distributed to public schools. The organization operates through multiple programs including Mi Escuela Clasifica (waste management in schools), Repapel Oeste (regional expansion), and Escuela Circular (audiovisual educational series). Additional offerings include Toolkit Repapel (communication resources) and a training catalog for sponsoring organizations. The organization connects waste recovery from companies with environmental education in schools, transforming recovered materials into school supplies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Papel Repapel: 100% recycled paper product made from recovered paper and cardboard of the Repapel community. Available in A4 (21 x 29.7 cm), ¼ W (25cm x 35cm), and Cartulina (95×45 cm) sizes, in packages of 15, 30 or 50 sheets of 2mm grammage.

Products and services

• Papel Repapel 100% recycled paper product manufactured in Uruguay from paper and cardboard waste recovered by the Repapel community. Available in A4, ¼ W, and Cartulina sizes with packages of 15, 30, or 50 sheets; sold to environmentally conscious consumers, parents, teachers, and artists.
• Calendario Ambiental Repapel Annual environmental calendar created collaboratively with students from Repapel educational centers, featuring important environmental dates, activities, data, tips, and educational resources, with illustrations by Edu Sganga. Produced for educational centers, families, and the general public.
• Útiles Escolares Reciclados School supplies produced from recycled materials — notebooks (cuadernos), paper folders (fundas), reams of paper (resmas), pots (macetas), and cardstock — distributed to public schools participating in Repapel environmental education programs across Uruguay.
• Escuela Circular Three-episode audiovisual educational series about circular economy and waste management in educational centers. Co-developed with DirecTV and Cielomoto, covering Circular Economy, Paper, and Plastics topics; distributed via DirecTV's Escuela Plus channel across Latin America and on the Ceibal platform.
• Mi Escuela Clasifica School-based environmental education program providing theoretical and practical tools for installing waste management systems covering paper, PET plastic bottles, and organic waste (including vermicomposting). Active since 2015, primarily in Montevideo public schools and extended nationally through Repapel Oeste.
• Repapel Oeste Regional program extending Repapel's circular economy and environmental education initiatives to the western region of Uruguay, in partnership with Intendencias (Soriano), local municipalities, and corporate sponsors.
• Catálogo de Capacitaciones Repapel (Recapacita) Training catalog (Recapacita) offering workshops and educational sessions for sponsoring organizations on responsible waste management and environmental topics, including paper lifecycle, recycling, and circular economy practices.

Quantifiable outcome

• 646,651 kg of paper recovered in 2025 alone
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

21 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ANCAP Programa Valor CompartidocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Partnership with ANCAP's Shared Value Program provided fuel donations enabling Repapel to conduct educational visits to schools in interior regions of Uruguay. This support was fundamental for making possible visits especially to locations where distances and transportation costs represented major challenges.
• Santillana UruguaycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Publisher committed to classifying and recycling all paper and cardboard used in their offices. Partnership includes employee training on paper lifecycle and responsible waste management, and participation in environmental education workshops. Santillana contributes educational content including textbooks with Repapel's 'Ambientalizarnos' section.
• DirecTVcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Strategic partnership to produce 'Escuela Circular', a three-episode audiovisual series about circular economy and waste management in educational centers. The series was broadcast across Latin America through DirecTV's Escuela Plus channel.
• Embassy of SwitzerlandcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Funding partner for the Repapel Oeste project extending environmental education and circular economy programs to the western region of Uruguay, working with Intendencia de Soriano and municipalities.
• CielomotocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUruguayan production company that co-developed the Escuela Circular audiovisual series with Repapel and DirecTV.
• Intendencia de MontevideocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal government partner supporting environmental education programs in 22+ educational centers in Montevideo through the '¡A Clasificar!' project managing paper, cardboard, plastic, and organic waste.
• FabitechcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in managing cellulosic waste from ANCAP plants, demonstrating how collaboration between organizations, companies, and public institutions generates concrete and sustained environmental impacts.
• Intendencia de SorianocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal government partner supporting Repapel Oeste program for environmental education and circular economy in the western region of Uruguay, working with local governments, companies, and educational institutions.
• Banco ItaúminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate partner in the 'Entre el Jardín y el Mar' project with Escuela N°72, conducting beach cleanups and environmental education activities exploring the connection between local environments and circularity.
• CasartacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate sponsor supporting Repapel Oeste project for environmental education and circular economy in the western region of Uruguay.
• Granja FrachiaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAgricultural business that provides logistics support for Fray Marcos community, using their transport capacity to deliver collected paper and cardboard to Montevideo recycling facilities.
• Club de Leones Fray MarcosminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity service organization that was one of the original partners in the Fray Marcos area, supporting environmental education initiatives since Repapel's early days over 20 years ago.
• Municipio de Fray MarcoscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal government that implemented a selective waste collection system throughout the Fray Marcos community, managing plastic waste alongside Repapel's paper and cardboard programs.
• Maple VillacoreOthersRecycling company in Las Piedras that receives Fray Marcos community's paper and cardboard, recycling it into cartons and other cardboard products.
• Eme PlásticaminorOthersCreative studio producing recycled plastic products including 'RE-memory' and 'Ta-Te-Ti' games made from recycled materials for school supplies.
• Chacra Educativa Santa LucíacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational farm co-organizing the I and II Jornada de Educación Ambiental with Repapel, hosting events and providing the venue for environmental education gatherings west of Montevideo.
• Traza MuseocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArt museum participating in Environmental Education Days, contributing art education workshops and discussions on linking education, nature, and arts.
• Museo ZorrillaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCultural institution hosting comic workshops and environmental education activities, participating in the 'Mi barrio, una historieta' project with schools.
• Bandas EducativasminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational comics workshops conducting comic creation workshops with schoolchildren for the 'Mi barrio, una historieta' project.
• Infantozzi MaterialescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRetail store and online seller distributing Papel Repapel recycled paper products to consumers in Uruguay.
• CeibalminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEducational technology platform distributing Escuela Circular content and pedagogical materials through their content portal.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• TerraCycle: Global recycling company that turns hard-to-recycle waste into products, with corporate sponsorship and school-collection programs. Comparable circular model but operates at far larger commercial scale as a for-profit.
• Eco-Schools (Foundation for Environmental Education): Global program operating in 70+ countries that embeds environmental education and action (including waste) into K-12 schools. Comparable mission and beneficiary population, but operates as a broader international framework rather than a localized recycling operator.
• Ecoembes: Spanish packaging-recycling non-profit managing household recycling with strong educational outreach in schools. Comparable model (industry-funded non-profit + environmental education) but at national scale in Spain.

Direct peers

• Plastic Bank: Social enterprise that collects plastic waste and converts it into recyclable commodities while funding community programs. Closely comparable to Repapel's circular-economy-plus-social-mission model, although it focuses on plastics and operates globally.
• WasteAid: UK-anchored non-profit improving waste management and circular economy in developing countries through community training and education. Directly comparable in pairing local waste recovery with educational outreach.
• The Recycling Partnership: US non-profit that funds and supports recycling programs for households and communities, partnering with corporations and municipalities. Similar non-profit structure, corporate-funded model, and emphasis on community-level circular outcomes.

Regional players

• Fundación Vida Silvestre Argentina: Argentine environmental NGO combining conservation, environmental education, and community engagement programs. Comparable regional non-profit model with education-heavy programs, though broader in scope than waste recovery.
• Cempre: Uruguayan corporate chamber promoting recycling and circular economy. Operates in Repapel's home market with overlapping corporate stakeholder base, but is an industry coordination body rather than a direct recycling operator.
• Recicleiros: Brazilian non-profit connecting recycling cooperatives with schools and communities, combining material recovery with social impact. Comparable LatAm non-profit model integrating waste recovery and education.

Others

• Fundación Avina: Latin American foundation supporting sustainable development through partnerships and grants, including circular-economy initiatives. Adjacent funder/ecosystem player rather than a direct recycling operator, but operates in overlapping LatAm networks.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/repapel
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCt3dwYdCsEMtHpNdHCCGjtg
• Facebookfacebook.com/Repapel
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/repapel
• Instagraminstagram.com/repapeluy

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Repapel