Alpla and Re-Purpose Collaborate to Invest in Plastic Recycling in South Africa

Austrian plastic packaging and recycling company, the Alpla Group, has unveiled a strategic partnership with Durban-based Re-Purpose, aiming to bolster polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic recycling efforts in South Africa. Alpla has earmarked a $65 million investment to construct a PET reprocessing plant in Ballito, situated in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal. Construction is progressing well at the 22-acre site, with Alpla anticipating the plant's commencement of operations next year, projected to yield over 35,000 metric tons of recycled PET (rPET) annually.

Describing Re-Purpose as a leader in post-consumer plastic scrap reverse logistics through source-oriented collection programs, Alpla emphasizes the company's significant role in this partnership. Re-Purpose operates four material recovery facilities (MRFs) in KwaZulu-Natal, alongside recyclables buy-back centers aimed at diverting plastic scrap from landfills while also generating employment and income opportunities for disadvantaged individuals.

The collaboration leverages Alpla's reprocessing capabilities with Re-Purpose's established reverse logistics network. As part of this endeavor, Re-Purpose will enhance its existing PET bottle collection and baling centers and establish new ones, with the collective goal of accumulating 5,000 tons of PET scrap per month. Alpla underscores that this initiative not only mitigates plastic scrap but also enhances its capacity to provide recycled-content PET to packaging customers.

Dietmar Marin, managing director of Alpla's Recycling Division, highlights the partnership's significance in expanding the company's portfolio of packaging solutions made from recycled PET material, catering to customers' sustainability objectives. Bevlen Sudhu, founder and managing director of Re-Purpose, echoes this sentiment, emphasizing the collaboration's role in driving innovation and sustainability in the recycling industry. By combining Alpla's extensive recycling expertise with Re-Purpose's reverse collection model, the partnership aims to advance the circular economy while assisting manufacturers in meeting mandated Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) targets.

ALPLA stands as a global leader in pioneering and manufacturing cutting-edge plastic packaging solutions. Renowned for its innovative packaging systems, bottles, caps, and injection-moulded parts catering to diverse industries, ALPLA boasts a rich heritage as a family-owned enterprise. The company distinguishes itself through its state-of-the-art technologies and the expertise and commitment of its workforce. ALPLA's business ethos revolves around sustainability and the eco-conscious utilization of resources. With over three decades of experience in recycling and the operation of its recycling facilities, ALPLA contributes significantly to maintaining plastics within the materials cycle. With a workforce of 23,300 employees spanning across 196 locations worldwide, operating in 47 countries across four continents, the company demonstrates its global reach and influence.