On 9 October 2024, packaging and recycling specialist ALPLA hosted a dialogue in Berlin with political, business, and academic leaders to discuss the role of plastic in the future circular economy. The event, held at the Alte Münze venue, focused on the potential of plastic as a recyclable material and its contributions to climate protection.
“Climate protection and prosperity depend on an efficient, circular plastics economy,” said Georg Pescher, Managing Director of ALPLA DE-BE-NL. “It requires innovative technologies, industrial pioneers, appreciation of the material, and public awareness.” Approximately 100 attendees engaged in discussions on the challenges, goals, and solutions for a sustainable circular economy.
The event featured an informative exhibition with spherical structures symbolizing molecules and polymers, illustrating the concepts of “Recycle, Reduce, Reuse, and Replace.” One key topic was the importance of post-consumer recycled material (PCR) in enhancing recycling efforts. Werner & Mertz CEO Reinhard Schneider highlighted mechanical recycling’s role in fostering consumer confidence in sustainable packaging solutions.
The dialogue also included a panel discussion on the future of plastic. ALPLA CEO Philipp Lehner discussed the importance of an unbiased perspective on plastic, stressing its essential role in reducing global resource consumption. “Plastic is the key challenge of our time,” said Henning Wilts, Head of the Circular Economy Department at the Wuppertal Institute. “We cannot continue with a linear approach; at the same time, we need plastic for sustainable resource management.”
Lehner emphasized that the plastics industry must collaborate to shift focus toward plastic’s benefits, asserting that “only by working together can we make the future sustainable.”
ALPLA’s #daskannkunststoff campaign encourages a fact-based view of plastic, advocating for its potential in the circular economy.