Recycling of animals in Portugal19

SEMAPA is one of the largest Portuguese industrial groups and is active in various sectors such as paper and cement. The group concentrates on environmentally friendly production with a special focus on recycling and is a leader in this field in Portugal.

Abapor-ETSA, a division of SEMAPA, focuses on the processing of dead animals and waste from slaughterhouses as well as on supermarket products that have reached their expiry date. Annually 120,000 tons of waste and rejected food are processed. Of the end products, 48% is exported.

The Abapor recycling plant processes carcasses of cows, pigs, goats, sheep and other (domestic) animals. After veterinary inspection, cows, pigs, sheep and goats are skinned. The skins of the highest quality are delivered to the leather industry in Portugal and Italy. The carcasses are burned, the animal fat provides biodiesel and biomass so the factory runs entirely on self-produced energy. The blood is processed into fertilizer.