Alpla, Re-Purpose invest to recycle plastic in South Africa

Austria-based plastic packaging and recycling firm Alpla Group has announced a strategic partnership with South Africa-based Re-Purpose the companies say will boost polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic recycling in South Africa.

Alpla is investing $65 million to build a PET reprocessing plant in Ballito in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal, and construction at the 22-acre site is underway.

Starting next year, the Ballito plant is expected to produce more than 35,000 metric tons of recycled PET (rPET) annually.

The Austrian firm describes Re-Purpose as “one of the market leaders in the reverse logistics of postconsumer plastic [scrap] through source-oriented collection programs.”

In addition to having four material recovery facilities (MRFs) in KwaZulu-Natal, Re-Purpose operates recyclables buy-back centers designed to collect and divert from landfills plastic scrap. “The model is also creating hundreds of jobs and income for previously disadvantaged people,” Alpla says.

The partnership combines the reprocessing capabilities of Alpla and the established reverse logistics network of Re-Purpose. As part of the collaboration, Re-Purpose will upgrade its existing collection and baling centers for PET bottles and set up new ones. The two companies say their goal is to collect 5,000 tons of PET scrap per month.

Alpla says the effort will not only divert plastic scrap from being a waste material, but also will improve its ability to offer recycled-content PET to its packaging customers.

“This collaboration allows us to expand our portfolio of packaging solutions made from recycled PET material, offering our customers in the region innovative alternatives that align with their sustainability goals,” says Dietmar Marin, managing director of the Recycling Division of Alpla.

“We are excited to join forces with Alpla to drive innovation and sustainability in the recycling industry,” says Bevlen Sudhu, founder and managing director of Re-Purpose. “By combining Alpla’s extensive recycling experience with our reverse collection model, we are expanding the circular economy and supporting manufacturers in achieving the required EPR targets.”