Reflecting the past 25 years of PETplanet in Spain
The first part of our Circular Economy Tour 2025 has officially begun, with my journey kicking off in Spain. While I expected to encounter exciting new developments, what struck me most were the strong echoes of the past – projects, people, and places that brought a real sense of déjà vu, shaped by 25 years of experience in the field. But first things first.
My first visit was with Mr. Guillem of Inden Pharma, now working in partnership with Alpla Pharma. Interestingly, this meeting took me back two decades, when we first considered launching a dedicated publication on plastics in the pharmaceutical industry alongside PETplanet. Even then, it was clear that the regulatory landscape for pharmaceutical packaging was – and remains – a logistical and regulatory balancing act. With multi-year approval processes and minimal room for post-market changes, innovation is a challenge. Today, the situation is largely unchanged. Each packaging format often requires a specific PET material approved from a designated manufacturer. In response, Inden Pharma has adopted an approach based on small production batches, often processed in individual bags – a remarkable logistical effort.
Next, I traveled to visit Mrs. Masó at Retal Iberia. We were warmly welcomed, and it was a pleasure to reconnect after nearly a decade. My colleagues Waldemar and Kay had visited previously, and it was inspiring to revisit Retal’s journey. I was reminded of one of my earliest international visits with PETplanet 25 years ago, which brought me to Retal’s original location in Dnipro, Ukraine. In light of recent events, it was especially moving to hear how the company continues to persevere despite the ongoing war, having relocated its headquarters closer to Kyiv to adapt to current realities.
My final stop was with César Rodriguez, the founder and CEO of MachinePoint. Remarkably, he launched his company around the same time I began PETplanet. Since then, César has led MachinePoint through numerous industry cycles, transforming it into a thriving platform for trading used machinery, complete with full-service support and a team of 50 employees. It brought back memories of my own early days covering the used machinery market – when instead of structured platforms, one would find neglected equipment gathering dust in storage halls, waiting for a second life.
Though sustainability wasn’t the explicit focus of every discussion, it was always present – embedded in the logistics, materials, and long-term decisions shaping each business. This leg of the tour, however, offered something equally valuable: the opportunity to reflect. Looking back at how far the industry – and PETplanet – have come, I’m reminded of the people and milestones that have defined this journey. As we look ahead to the future of the circular economy, it’s just as important to acknowledge the foundation it’s built upon.
Until next time,
Alexander Büchler
PS: Are you interested in taking part in the tour? Then send us an email to: [email protected]
