Alpla acquires HDPE recycler in Brazil

Iranpolymer/Baspar  Alplarecycling, the recycling division of Austrian packaging manufacturer Alpla, has acquired a majority stake in Clean Bottle, a Brazilian HDPE recycler.

As part of the new joint venture, the companies will operate a rHDPE plant in São José dos Pinhais, Paraná. The facility, previously solely owned by Clean Bottle, has an annual output capacity of 15,000 tonnes of recycled HDPE.

The terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Through the acquisition, Alpla has entered the South American plastics recycling market. Its recycling division already produces recycled HDPE and PET at 13 plants across nine countries: Austria, Germany, Poland, Italy, Spain, Romania, Thailand, South Africa, and Mexico.

Selecting the right partner in Brazil, the largest plastics recycling market in South America, was ‘key’, Alpla said in a statement.

“‘Brazil is the beginning of our recycling activities in South America and therefore the choice of partner is of key importance,” said Christoph Schneider, regional managing director South America. “Clean Bottle is an established manufacturer and, as a long-standing supplier, shares our quality standards,” he added.

Clean Bottle’s recycling plant boasts modern infrastructure, self-sufficient rainwater treatment, and the highest quality standards, Alpla said in a statement. The 15,000 square metre facility employs around 120 people. The company’s parent company, Clean Plastic Group, operates a waste collection centre in Curitiba which the new joint venture plans to expand in the future.

Alpla uses an average of 32% post-consumer recycled material in its production of HDPE packaging in Brazil. The company said it is following the trend for higher use of recycled materials in packaging. The acquisition of Clean Bottle allows it to secure a long-term supply of rHDPE for its operations in South America.

HDPE is the second most recycled plastic in Brazil after PET, with a 2023 rate of 28.1%. In 2023, the country produced 939,000 tonnes of post-consumer resign, with rPET accounting for 41.1% and rHDPE for 20.6%.

Brazil’s plastics recycling rate fell to 20.6% in 2023 from a high of 25.6% the year before.

Earlier this month, Alpla said its commitment to the circular economy is ‘paying off’. It announced a goal to double its current plastic recycling capacity to 700,000 tonnes/year by 2030.

Alpla currently invests at least €50 million a year in plastics recycling. It has recently  ramped up its investments outside of Europe, opening its first PET recycling plant in South Africa, acquiring Egyptian bottle manufacturer Taba, and now expanding into Brazil.

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