ALPLA region shows: Sustainability even under challenging conditions
The AMET region (Africa, Middle East and Turkey) is one of the most committed sustainability regions at ALPLA. Despite a limited recycling infrastructure and a low level of awareness of the issue of sustainability, the region is implementing numerous initiatives, strengthening the company's internal and external visibility and driving concrete progress.
The "PET Fish Buddy" project gives children early access to topics relating to the correct collection of PET bottles.
Challenges in the region
Many countries in the ALPLA AMET region (Africa, Middle East and Turkey) have barely developed waste and recycling systems. Waste separation is not established in large parts of the population, and a functioning circular economy is still in its infancy in many places. However, without sufficient collection structures, even motivated consumer behaviour often does not lead to correct disposal. Added to this is the low availability of post-consumer recycled material (PCR). Locally produced food-grade rPET is only available in South Africa and Turkey, but this sometimes struggles with quality fluctuations. At the same time, the price of virgin material is usually significantly lower than that of PCR, which inhibits demand - especially in markets without regulatory requirements. In the AMET region, only South Africa has mandatory PCR shares in the rPET sector to date.
This initial situation makes it difficult to implement sustainable packaging solutions. Nevertheless, ALPLA employees in this region are demonstrating that progress is possible - with local partnerships, internal initiatives and a clear strategic focus.
"The AMET region shows how important it is to adapt sustainability to local conditions. Even if infrastructure and habits are lacking in many places, tangible progress can be made through cooperation, consistent educational work and clear internal priorities."
Theresia Gollner, Regional Operational Projects & Sustainability Manager AMET
What ALPLA is doing in the region
In light of these challenges, ALPLA has developed a variety of measures in the region that both raise awareness and enable practical progress. One focus is on educational work and close cooperation with communities, schools and employees.
In South Africa, for example, ALPLA has launched the "PET Fish Buddy" project in cooperation with its partner MRF re-purpose, which teaches children the value of PET collection and provides early access to topics relating to the circular economy. In the United Arab Emirates, the "More to Plastic" campaign as part of Plastic is Fantastic focuses on raising awareness of the use of plastic. It is set to be expanded to include a comprehensive school initiative from 2026.
Social engagement also plays a role. In Angola, regular activities are organised with a local orphanage, where ALPLA teams work together with children to implement environmental projects. These encounters create trust, promote learning processes and increase ALPLA's local visibility.
A joint highlight for the entire region in 2025 was once again World Environment Day, which was organised over several months. With a total of 13.3 tonnes of waste collected and a wide range of additional measures - from energy-saving initiatives to zero-pellet loss programmes - a clear signal was sent out at all sites. The activities show that sustainability in the region is not just a project-related issue, but is increasingly becoming an integral part of operational processes.
In Angola, regular activities are organised with a local orphanage.
International visibility and recognition
In addition to these local activities, the region strengthens ALPLA's position on a global level. ALPLA employees took part in several international conferences - such as the Plastic Recycling Show MEA in Riyadh and Dubai, the GPCA Conference in Saudi Arabia and various events in Istanbul. This presence helps to make ALPLA's expertise in the circular economy visible in important growth and transformation markets.
The company's great commitment in various areas is also reflected in numerous awards. ALPLA was honoured as "Sustainable Plastic Packaging Company of the Year" in 2025, among other awards.
A model for other regions
The AMET region will continue to expand its activities in the future. More intensive cooperation with authorities, producer responsibility organisations and educational institutions is planned in order to strengthen collection systems in the long term and advance regulatory developments. Preparations for the future UN Plastics Convention are also playing an increasingly important role.
The experiences from AMET not only serve regional development, but also provide valuable insights for other ALPLA regions - especially where similar challenges exist. The region shows that sustainable transformation is possible even under difficult conditions if it is strategically planned and consistently implemented.
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