ALPLA has announced a collaboration with independent consultancy c7-consult to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the carbon footprint associated with products across its four recycling facilities located in Mexico and Germany.

Presently, ALPLA operates a total of 13 recycling plants globally, dedicated to the production of recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET) and recycled high-density polyethylene (rHDPE). These facilities fall under the umbrella of ALPLA's recently established brand, ALPLArecycling.

According to ALPLA, the analysis carried out by c7-consult has affirmed that the production processes at all four rPET and rHDPE plants are deemed 'efficient,' resulting in significantly lower carbon emissions compared to virgin materials.

The data compiled by c7-consult highlights notable carbon reductions of up to 87% across the four plants in question. Specifically, ALPLArecycling's base plant in Toluca, Mexico, produces approximately 30,000 tonnes of rHDPE annually, with an associated carbon footprint of 0.69kg of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) per kilogram of rHDPE. This represents a 70% reduction in emissions when compared to the 2.32kg CO2e per kilogram associated with virgin HDPE material.

Another facility assessed by c7-consult is the Industria Mexicana de Reciclaje in Toluca, boasting an annual production capacity of 16,000 tonnes of rPET. This facility registers a carbon footprint of only 0.38kg of CO2e per kilogram of rPET, showcasing an impressive 87% reduction compared to the 2.90kg CO2e per kilogram associated with virgin PET.

In Germany, ALPLArecycling operates a sorting and processing plant in Bitterfeld-Wolfen, Saxony-Anhalt, with a carbon footprint of 0.93kg of CO2e per kg of rPET. ALPLA asserts that this signifies a 68% reduction in emissions compared to virgin material. Additionally, the German site in Bad Salzuflen, North Rhine-Westphalia, records a carbon footprint of 0.68kg of CO2e per kilogram, representing a substantial reduction of 77%.

Georg Lässer, who holds the position of Director of ALPLA Business Development, Procurement, and Sales, as well as Recycling, responded to the findings by expressing that the data confirms the direction they are taking. He mentioned that they are involved in the production of environmentally friendly recycling solutions with a regional emphasis. Additionally, he highlighted their commitment to converting materials into new packaging, promoting the bottle-to-bottle loop. Lässer emphasized that through these efforts, they aim to guarantee the availability of safe, affordable, and sustainable packaging solutions on a global scale.

The collaboration between ALPLA and c7-consult underscores a commitment to environmentally responsible practices, emphasizing the importance of producing recycled materials with significantly lower carbon footprints compared to their virgin counterparts. This initiative aligns with ALPLA's dedication to providing global packaging solutions that are both sustainable and environmentally friendly.