Bernd Wachter is the new corporate director of Circular Economy & Recycling in Asia

In addition to its core packaging business, the ALPLA Group is continuing to focus on expanding the circular economy throughout Asia. In order to develop new, innovative solutions in the area of sustainability and recycling, Bernd Wachter as corporate director of Circular Economy & Recycling Asia and his team work closely with the global recycling and sustainability experts at the headquarters in Hard, Austria. In his function, he reports directly to Günther Lehner, chairman of the ALPLA Group. Bernd Wachter has held various positions at ALPLA since 2006, most recently as regional managing director of ALPLA South East Asia for twelve years. Wachter’s vast expertise of markets and countries throughout Asia makes him the ideal choice for the new, strategically important position.

Consumers in Asia are also becoming increasingly environmentally conscious, demanding more sustainable products with a low carbon footprint. Furthermore, the laws of many countries in Asia are currently changing towards more sustainability, such as in the area of CO₂ taxes. ALPLA is convinced that this trend will continue and intensify in the coming years. With around 4,700 employees in the newly merged Asia Pacific (APAC) region and the India region, ALPLA is very well positioned to develop innovative and sustainable packaging solutions for the Asian market. A strategic focus is also on networking the company with governments, interest groups, NGOs, research institutions and industry in the regions.

News from the field of recycling

ALPLA is doing a lot in Asia, especially in the area of recycling. In the first quarter of 2022, Envicco, a joint venture with PTT Global Chemical (PTTGC), will start production of rHDPE and rPET in Rayong, two hours south of Bangkok, with Bernd Wachter on the board of directors. The planned annual capacity is 30,000 tonnes for food-grade rPET and 15,000 tonnes for rHDPE. The primary aim is to supply the existing ALPLA sites in Asia with high-quality recycled material and thus further strengthen ALPLA’s sustainable packaging solutions.