The two companies plan to invest 60 million dollars in the construction of a new high-tech plant.

The Austrian packaging specialist Alpla and Coca-Cola Femsa, the Mexican subsidiary of the US beverage giant, are reportedly building another recycling plant in the south-east of Mexico in the state of Tabasco in a structurally weak region. The new plant shall be able to process more than 50,000 tonnes of used PET bottles per year. According to Alpla and Coca Cola, 18 collection points will be set up specifically for this purpose, where the used plastic will be collected by regional collectors. Small quantities of 20 kilograms or more could also be handed in at the collection points. According to the two companies, around 20,000 direct and indirect jobs could be created if the plant is fully utilised. Coca-Cola is one of the main producers of plastic waste in the environment. A large proportion of its PET bottles, which are actually very easy to recycle, simply end up in the environment, according to a statement from the two companies. For Mexico, a country with poorly developed waste disposal structures, the construction of the plant represented an important step towards a circular economy. Alpla and Coca-Cola Femsa are reportedly part of the ‘New Plastics Economy Global Commitments’, an initiative of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation. In collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme, the initiative aims to ensure that 100 per cent of products can be reused, recycled or composted by 2025. At the same time, the proportion of recycled materials in the total material input is to increase to 25 per cent.
 
Alpla is also involved in its own initiative in favour of the material: ‘Plastic is fantastic’ aims to improve the relationship between people and plastic through factual contributions and contribute to the appreciation of the material. Alpla therfor recently published a new video on YouTube.
 
Sources:

• Alpla press release (8.5.2024)
• Photo: © Alpla