Alpla launches its new brand ALPLArecycling

2023-08-22

Since 2005, the Alpla Group has been investing in the development of its own recycling capacities. The plastic packaging company currently operates 13 plants, including four joint ventures with regional partners, and aims to process at least 25% post-consumer material (PCR) by 2025. After investing millions in new plants in South Africa, Romania and Thailand, as well as in the expansion of a plant in Poland, Alpla consolidates all its activities under the new brand ALPLArecycling.

PLA, a specialist in packaging and recycling, processes used PET bottles and used HDPE containers.

Alpla focuses on mechanical recycling and has invested more than 50 million euros per year in the expansion of its activities since 2021. Thanks to new plants, expansion of existing facilities, joint ventures and strategic acquisitions, the installed and planned annual production capacity has since doubled to 350,000 tons of PCR material. Together with the recently announced construction of a new plant in South Africa and the expansion of the facilities in Poland, the annual capacity amounts to 266,000 tons of rPET (recycled PET) and 84,000 tons of rHDPE (recycled HDPE).

Alpla consolidates its recycling activities under the new brand ALPLArecycling.

Around 1,100 Alpla employees work in recycling. In addition to the production of high-quality rPET and rHDPE in 13 plants, including four joint ventures with regional partners, the company focuses on the development of sustainable packaging solutions with a high proportion of recycled materials, optimal recyclability and low weight. The growing importance of the recycling sector, the strong expansion and the increase in demand have now led to the creation of the ALPLArecycling brand together with its own website. In it you will find at a glance complete information about recycling at Alpla, the products available and the location of recycling plants and joint ventures.

Every year we produce more high-quality, affordable and sustainable packaging from used packaging. With our own production, development and optimization of materials, we guarantee quality and quantity, while strengthening regional and national recycling circuits,” stresses Philipp Lehner, CEO of Alpla. Recycling plastics reduces carbon consumption by up to 90%, reduces waste and creates value and jobs in plants.

“Our many years of experience and access to our own materials provide our customers with a competitive advantage. The new brand is a clear commitment to recycling and to our expansion plans in growing markets”” explains Dietmar Marin, general manager of Alpla’s Recycling division. In the coming years, the company will intensify its activities in areas such as Southern Africa, the Middle East and the Asia-Pacific region. The interest in sustainable packaging is growing all over the world. We are present as pioneers in all regions of the world and we are already a strong partner for future solutions,” says Marin.

Dietmar Marin, General manager of the Recycling Division of Alpla.

Recycling target: 25% of PCR material by 2025

Currently, Alpla processes 20% of PCR material and its goal is to increase this percentage to at least 25% by 2025. In addition, all packaging solutions will need to be fully recyclable by then. The company has been part of the New Plastics Economy, an initiative of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, since 2018. ‘We firmly believe in plastic as a recyclable material and in the success of closed loops from bottle to bottle. With our commitment, we want to create infrastructures in as many countries as possible, raise awareness and thus generate added value for the environment, the economy and society,” says Günther Lehner, Chairman of the company’s Advisory Board.