Sustainability with purpose: Terpel's vision in the premiere of "CIRCULAR"

The road to a world without waste takes more than technical processes; it takes stories that inspire and actions that transform. With that in mind, Sandra Pinzón, CEO and Founder of Global Zero Waste, launched "CIRCULAR", a video podcast designed to give visibility to the stories that revolve around the circular economy, sustainability and the people who make a world without waste possible.

Our first guest, Andrea Cheer, Director of Corporate Affairs at Terpel, shared how the organisation has made sustainability the backbone of its operation. For Andrea, communication is the key tool for that change: "Communication and journalism made me understand that it was not only about informing… but about connecting, about inspiring, and above all… about transforming realities".

A measurable, collective commitment

To talk about Terpel in 2026 is to talk about a benchmark of proven excellence. The company was recently included, for the ninth year running, in S&P Global's prestigious Sustainability Yearbook, cementing its place among the 22 Colombian companies with the best environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) practices in the world.

Terpel not only held its position, it was also singled out with the "Industry Mover" distinction. S&P Global awards that title exclusively to companies that improve their sustainability score outstandingly (by more than 5%) within their industry. On that achievement, Daniel Perea, Vice-President of Corporate Affairs at Terpel, has been emphatic:

"Being included in the Sustainability Yearbook and being an Industry Mover is the result of discipline, strategic decision-making, consistency between what we say and what we do, and a permanent commitment to operating responsibly."

Success stories: when waste turns into hope

On the set of CIRCULAR, the conversation takes shape through objects with a story behind them. One of the most moving moments of the episode was the discussion of the circular economy applied to the fight against hunger. Through EatCloud technology, Terpel has managed surplus food in its "Altoque" convenience stores, preventing waste and feeding vulnerable communities.

"Beyond stopping a product from becoming waste, we are fighting hunger. So it is a circular economy with social impact," Andrea explained as they discussed the impact of a simple "chicken pie" that, instead of going in the bin, reaches a table where it is needed.

The episode also featured the story of the pencil cases made from retired uniforms, an upcycling project that not only reduces environmental impact but supports the education of children in the company's areas of influence. On that, Andrea stressed the long-term vision they share with the Zero Waste Management System:

"When we talk about a Zero Waste management system it is not like a snapshot of the moment… it is the now and what is going to happen from social transformation onwards."

A commitment that is "reborn"

As the meeting drew to a close, Sandra Pinzón challenged Andrea to define circularity in a single word. The answer was emphatic: "Rebirth". For Terpel, being an "Aliado País" means precisely that: letting materials, stories and communities have a second chance through innovation and consistency.

This first episode of CIRCULAR is an invitation to look beyond sustainability reports and discover the heart of the organisations that, like Terpel and Global Zero Waste, are determined to change the planet's future, one piece of waste at a time.

Want the full detail of this conversation? Watch the complete episode on our YouTube channel and join the circular economy revolution.