Closed-Loop Recycling at ALPLA: Circular Economy in Practice

A Closed Recycling Loop for HDPE Bottles

In partnership with ENVICCO and local customers, ALPLA has established a fully closed recycling loop for HDPE bottles in Thailand. The objective of the project is to return packaging to the material cycle after use and to manufacture new, market-ready products from it. The process comprises several carefully coordinated steps:

1. Used HDPE bottles are collected through existing collection and pre-sorting systems. Collection takes place in close cooperation with local brand owners and via an established network of collection partners.
2. The pre-sorted, brand-specific bottles are delivered to ENVICCO, where they are processed into high-quality HDPE recyclate (PCR).
3. ALPLA uses this recyclate to manufacture new bottles that meet the respective quality and product specifications of its customers.
4. The finished packaging is then refilled and reintroduced to the market.

In this way, a closed material loop is created that systematically links recycling, production and reuse.

A Functioning Closed Loop for Personal & Homecare Products

Although the applications primarily involve personal and homecare products with comparatively long usage phases, the closed loop operates reliably. This is made possible by integrating Thailand’s established collection infrastructure, which is structured in multiple stages and allows for early pre-sorting of materials. As a result, relevant volumes of HDPE bottles can be specifically channelled into the recycling loop and secured for reuse in new packaging.

Successfully Implemented and Further Scalable

The project was launched in October 2024 and has since been fully implemented. The approach is being continuously refined and expanded to additional product portfolios and customer segments. It therefore serves as a blueprint for comparable closed-loop solutions in other ALPLA regions.

The project also illustrates how the circular economy works in practice: through collaborative partnerships across the entire supply chain, high-quality recyclates and clearly defined processes. At the same time, ecological benefits, security of supply and economic stability are effectively combined.

Recognition for Circular Economy in Action

The project has also received significant internal recognition: as part of the ALPLA Sustainability Award 2025, the Closed Loop Recycling project in Thailand was awarded first place. The award recognises initiatives that concretely implement sustainability across the three pillars of People, Planet and Profitability.

“The Closed Loop Recycling project in Thailand clearly demonstrates how the circular economy can be implemented in practice. Through close collaboration with local partners, it has been possible to establish a fully closed recycling loop that combines environmental responsibility with economic stability and security of supply,” says Linda Staib, Senior Corporate Sustainability Manager at ALPLA.