Page 24 - Plastics News July 2019

CompANy News

ALPLA and GC plan to build Clariant Masterbatches opens

plastic recycling plant in Thailand packaging facility in Thailand

ustrian packaging solutions provider ALPLA will partner lariant Masterbatches has opened a regional
Awith PTT Global Chemical (GC) to build a plastic Cpackaging centre (RPC) in Thailand, allowing
recycling plant in Thailand. Under the collaboration, the company to increase support for customers in
the partners will launch a feasibility study for the joint the Asia-Pacific region. Located in its Phanthong
construction of the plant. PTT Global Chemical president factory, the RPC was revealed at InterPlas Thailand
and CEO Supattanapong Punmeechaow said: “GC will work earlier this month. The RPC will house formulation,
with ALPLA to conduct a process and analytical experts who possess thorough
study on investing in the knowledge of market trends and customer needs.
first high-quality circular Experts will be able to access analytical equipment, a
plastic recycling plant range of processing machines, and Clariant’s regional
in Thailand, including network of application development laboratories in
materials such as rPET Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia, India, New
and rHDPE.“We will make Zealand and Australia to help improve the company’s
a decision in the third service to its customers. Clariants Masterbaches will
quarter of this year after continue upgrading and installing new equipment
reviewing the results of at the centre through the first quarter of next year.
the study.” ALPLA develops and produces plastic packaging Clariant Masterbatches Asia-Pacific head Chris Hansen
solutions globally. It currently operates two recycling said: “With the RPC, we want to engage deeper
plants in Austria and Poland, as well as joint ventures with customers in a co-creation process to develop
in Germany and Mexico for polyethylene terephthalate breakthrough concepts and solutions in masterbatch
(PET) recycling. In an effort to optimise resources, GC products and processes tailored to their aesthetic and
has developed bioplastics as an alternative type of plastic functional needs. “We are doing this in partnership with
and the implemented effective waste management other suppliers, leading institutes and universities so
systems as part of its commitment to a circular economy. that Clariant can provide comprehensive solutions to
The companies also noted that the demand for recycled packaging converters and brand owners.” Clariant has
plastics is growing globally including South East Asia. ALPLA installed various types of analytical equipment at the
regional manager Bernd Wachter said: “In particular,
excellent quality of recyclates plays a big role. We have
expertise in the manufacture of food-grade recyclates and
we are experts in the processing of these materials into
new packaging. “Together with GC, we could implement a
flagship initiative for the country and the entire region.”
In addition, ALPLA has committed to expand its recycling
activities by investing €50m and make all of its packaging
solutions fully recyclable by 2025. The company will also
increase the volume of processed post-consumer recycled
materials to 25% of total material usage. In April, ALPLA
partnered with Swedish firm BillerudKorsnäs to develop
a completely sustainable paper bottle by forming a joint centre, which will be used to determine the chemical,
venture (JV) in the Danish paper bottle company ecoXpac. mechanical, environmental stress cracking, anti-static
During the same month, the Austrian packaging solutions and coefficient of friction properties of packaging
provider and Swiss company FROMM established a joint materials. Production-scale processing machines, such
venture (JV), called PET Recycling Team Wolfen. The JV as mono and multi layer blown film, blow moulding,
was set up specifically to recycle PET from the yellow bag cast film and injection-moulding lines, will also be
used in German bins for household recyclables. located at the RPC.

Plastics News July 2019 24