ALPLA Group, the Austria-based global packaging and recycling company, recorded significant growth in 2024, reporting a 4% increase in turnover to €4.9 billion from the previous year’s €4.7 billion. The company also expanded its workforce to 24,350 employees across 200 locations in 46 countries, including 365 apprentices, underscoring its commitment to professional training.
Founded in 1955, ALPLA is a family-owned company specializing in plastic packaging solutions. CEO Philipp Lehner highlighted the company’s focus on innovation and sustainability, stating, “Plastic packaging shapes the lives of billions of people. As a technological market leader, we are making it increasingly lighter and more sustainable. We will continue to invest in this worldwide.”
Recycling Goals and Investments
The company continues to prioritize recycling efforts, with plans to double its output capacity to 700,000 tonnes of recycled material by 2030. ALPLA operates 13 recycling plants across nine countries, producing PET and HDPE recycled materials. Lehner noted, “Our commitment to a circular economy is paying off. We are on track to achieve our goal of using at least 25% recycled material in our packaging by 2025.” ALPLA invests €50 million annually in recycling initiatives, focusing on lightweighting and designing products for recyclability to reduce carbon footprints and enhance sustainability.
Expansion and Market Trends
In 2024, ALPLA achieved growth in emerging markets across South America, Africa, and the Middle East, where demand for innovative and sustainable packaging solutions continues to rise. The company also reported a recovery in demand in North and Central America, while European markets showed progress despite challenges such as EU regulations and high labor costs. To counter these, the company is enhancing efficiency and introducing new products, including a PET wine bottle, monomaterial dispenser pump, and reusable packaging solutions.
ALPLA is also positioning itself for future growth in the Asia-Pacific region, with a new plant set to open in Thailand in 2025.
Business Developments
The company strengthened its portfolio with the addition of Heinlein Plastik-Technik to its ALPLApharma division and the establishment of ALPLAinject, focusing on injection molding. Innovations include a fiber-based bottle developed by subsidiary Paboco, slated for series production in 2025.
Lehner concluded that balancing global standards with regional production and long-term partnerships remains key to ALPLA’s sustained growth trajectory.