Technological watch

Austrian packaging solutions provider ALPLA will partner with PTT Global Chemical (GC) to build a plastic recycling plant in Thailand.Under the collaboration, the partners will launch a feasibility study for the joint construction of the plant.PTT Global Chemical president and CEO Supattanapong Punmeechaow said: “GC will work with ALPLA to conduct a study on investing in the first high-quality circular plastic recycling plant in Thailand, including materials such as rPET and rHDPE.“We will make a decision in the third quarter of this year after reviewing the results of the study.”
ALPLA develops and produces plastic packaging solutions globally. It currently operates two recycling plants in Austria and Poland, as well as joint ventures in Germany and Mexico for polyethylene terephthalate (PET) recycling.
In an effort to optimise resources, GC has developed bioplastics as an alternative type of plastic and the implemented effective waste management systems as part of its commitment to a circular economy.The companies also noted that the demand for recycled plastics is growing globally including South East Asia.ALPLA regional manager Bernd Wachter said: “In particular, excellent quality of recyclates plays a big role. We have expertise in the manufacture of food-grade recyclates and we are experts in the processing of these materials into new packaging.“Together with GC, we could implement a flagship initiative for the country and the entire region.”In addition, ALPLA has committed to expand its recycling activities by investing ?€50m and make all of its packaging solutions fully recyclable by 2025.The company will also increase the volume of processed post-consumer recycled materials to 25% of total material usage.In April, ALPLA partnered with Swedish firm BillerudKorsnäs to develop a completely sustainable paper bottle by forming a joint venture (JV) in the Danish paper bottle company ecoXpac.During the same month, the Austrian packaging solutions provider and Swiss company FROMM established a joint venture (JV), called PET Recycling Team Wolfen. The JV was set up specifically to recycle PET from the yellow bag used in German bins for household recyclables.