Unlocking the Circular Economy with Rafael Tello of AMBIPAR: Collaboration, Jobs and Climate Impact

In his conversation with WCF, Rafael Tello, Sustainability President at AMBIPAR, highlights the circular economy as a powerful yet underdeveloped lever for climate action, one that could reduce the emissions needed to meet the Paris Agreement goals by up to 45%. Achieving that potential depends on close collaboration between governments, companies and civil society to build the right models, incentives and regulatory frameworks.

Drawing on AMIPAR’s experience, Tello explains how dialogue with governments is helping shape policies that incentivise recycling over disposal. This includes taxing landfills and other disposal methods, removing double taxation on recycled materials, and reinvesting disposal taxes into recycling, co-processing and bio-digestion technologies to strengthen the circular supply chain.

“If we want the circular economy to scale, recycling must be more attractive than disposal - economically, socially and environmentally.”  

Recorded at the World Climate Summit & the Investment COP 2025, Tello also stresses the importance of measuring impact to ensure the circular economy’s contribution to emissions reduction is properly captured in global climate accounting frameworks. 

Watch the full conversation: 

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Rafael Tello, Sustainability President at AMBIPAR

Rafael TELLO, as Sustainability Vice President at Ambipar Group, Rafael guides internal sustainability processes while supporting clients, partners and investors.

He also represents Ambipar at events, such as speaking at COP30 about financing environmental initiatives.