People & society

ALPLA Sustainability Award

A spotlight on sustainability projects
At ALPLA, sustainability stands for responsible conduct in the three areas of people and society, ecology and environmental impacts, and efficiency and technology. The Corporate Strategy, Sustainability & Circular Economy department initiated the ALPLA Sustainability Award in 2021 to train a spotlight on all the many different activities from across the spectrum into which the employees all over the world put their heart and soul. The projects could be promoting recycling and waste reduction, making internal processes more efficient or protecting local ecosystems. Social projects in the vicinity of ALPLA sites were also welcome.

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‘Many ALPLA employees are involved in sustainability projects, thereby demonstrating that each and every one of us can contribute to environmental and climate protection and have a positive impact on society. The Sustainability Award is our way of training a spotlight on and recognising this dedication.’

Initiator Linda Staib, Senior Sustainability Manager

Non-reusable waste at the plant in Bridgwater was reduced from 497 kg a month in 2016 to an average of just 95 kg in 2021. This was achieved by raising the employees’ awareness of their moral responsibility, by means of real dedication and based on process changes implemented in close cooperation with the customers. Among other things, the following points were implemented:

  • Raising awareness among all the employees
  • Clean floor guidelines
  • Two-container system for waste
  • Black waste container sorting – materials engineer performs a check before disposal to ensure that as much as possible is recycled

Non-reusable waste at the plant in Bridgwater was reduced from 497 kg a month in 2016 to an average of just 95 kg in 2021. This was achieved by raising the employees’ awareness of their moral responsibility, by means of real dedication and based on process changes implemented in close cooperation with the customers. Among other things, the following points were implemented:

  • Raising awareness among all the employees
  • Clean floor guidelines
  • Two-container system for waste
  • Black waste container sorting – materials engineer performs a check before disposal to ensure that as much as possible is recycled

In the case of this project, the customers’ expectations were exceeded thanks to a great deal of commitment. Here, Germany’s familiar ‘pearl bottle’ was redeveloped as a reusable PET bottle. The requirements were that there be a 10 per cent rPET proportion and that it be possible to reuse the bottle 15 times. Ultimately, an rPET proportion of 30 per cent was achieved and they are now working on creating a closed loop.

The bottles have been in production in Exter since March 2021 and the target is for 25 million bottles a year to be supplied. The project boasts an obvious advantage – a lower carbon footprint thanks to the higher rPET proportion, renewable energy and up to 15 cycles.

The colleagues at BrasALPLA organised various projects designed to support social initiatives and charitable organisations in the area of sport and education. The projects included the following:

  • Supporting children’s homes
  • Blankets for shelters for the homeless
  • Food donations for production workers during the coronavirus pandemic
  • Christmas presents for orphanages and schools
  • Winter clothing campaigns for employees
  • Welcome gifts for newborn babies at all BrasALPLA plants

The many projects boost the employees’ commitment and their sense of belonging to ALPLA as well as people’s trust in the brand.

The winning projects and all the other entries clearly illustrate that the topic of sustainability is important to the ALPLA employees around the world too and is practised by them. With the first ALPLA Sustainability Award having been a resounding success, a second Sustainability Award competition is already being planned for 2022.