ALPLA’s Canupak reduces carbon emissions by around 71%

Packaging and recycling specialist ALPLA has come up with a carbon-optimized prototype solution as a showcase for future products with its innovative Canupak beauty care packaging. The ultralight packaging system with a bottle made entirely of recycled HDPE (rHDPE) underscores the company’s global sustainability strategy. ALPLA is also offering its customers further potential to reduce emissions as well as expertise for future developments.

Around 71% less carbon consumption than with comparable packaging types, complete recyclability of the bottle and cap, and a total weight of approximately just 14 grams – with its ultralight Canupak packaging system, the global packaging, and recycling company ALPLA has realized carbon-optimized packaging for the field of beauty care. The bottle is made entirely of recycled HDPE (rHDPE) sourced from the company’s own plants in the EU. It is also produced exclusively using renewable energies.

Canupak is a prime example of how the potential to minimize emissions can be explored with high-quality packaging systems. ‘We are gradually reducing carbon emissions and are expanding our expertise across the board of processes, from design and production through to logistics. The carbon-optimized Canupak is the next milestone on the path to the sustainable packaging of the future,’ emphasizes Karina Pölzl, Innovation Project manager at ALPLA.

Solutions for the future

The carbon footprint was calculated in cooperation with ClimatePartner. The product carbon footprint (PCF) comprises all the emissions throughout a product’s life cycle, including its disposal. The areas of package contents, retail, and use phase were not taken into account as these are not relevant to the climate impacts of packaging. As no clear standards currently exist for climate-neutral products and offsetting certificates, ALPLA is focusing on reducing emissions within its own sphere of influence. ‘We are focusing on further optimizing our products and on maximum recyclability based on the design for recycling, and are on the lookout for partners who wish to take the next step in reducing their carbon footprint together with us,’ reports Project manager Karina Pölzl.

‘There is increasing demand for sustainable products – among our customers as well as the end consumers. Carbon-optimized packaging has a key part to play here. We already have the expertise and experience in producing future-oriented solutions,’ says ALPLA’s delighted CEO Philipp Lehner.

Global sustainability strategy

At ALPLA, the development of carbon-optimized packaging solutions with a high PCR proportion, maximum recyclability, and minimum material consumption goes hand in hand with investments in sustainable projects and the global expansion of renewable energy and the circular economy. All packaging is to be fully recyclable by 2025, with post-consumer recycled material (PCR) accounting for 25% of the materials processed.

The company is investing 50 million euros a year in recycling activities to this end. ALPLA already widely used renewable energies and high-quality own-production recycled materials at its plants and is minimizing transport journeys with in-house plants directly at the customers’ premises.

ALPLA is involved in plastic packaging and recycling. Around 22,100 employees worldwide produce custom-made packaging systems, bottles, caps and molded parts at 177 sites across 45 countries. The packaging is used in a wide range of areas, including for food and drinks, cosmetics and care products, household cleaning products, detergents and cleaning agents, pharmaceutical products, engine oils and lubricants.

ALPLA operates recycling plants for PET and HDPE in Austria, Germany, Poland, Mexico, Italy, Spain, Romania and Thailand.