PETpla.net Insider 01+02 / 2018

PREFORM PRODUCTION PET planet Insider Vol. 19 No. 01+02/18 www.petpla.net 12 Facing the challenges of the circular economy: Alpla joins the RAL quality association Sustainable preforms guaranteed by Heike Fischer Sustainability is an important part of a large company’s cor- porate identity. However, its various definitions and applica- tions in terms of practical implementation can sometimes seem confusing. Fortunately, there are now some very spe- cific factors at play in the PET industry, generally recognised systems that enable particular contributions to the circular economy and sustainability to be observed. The establishment of a RAL quality association for the PET drinks’ pack- aging value chain goes back to the year 2014. The goal of the RAL quality association is to sustainably promote, with respect to ecological factors, the further evolution of PET bever- age bottles, and to make a positive contribution to resource efficiency and environmental and climate protection. A high level of consumer protection and the optimisation of the interfaces between the levels of the supply chain are guaranteed through the use of standard guidelines for members, which are specified in the RAL quality and testing regulations. The RAL qual- ity association spans supply chains and sectors. The list of members includes:  Recyclers that manufacture PET recyclates (food-grade)  Preform producers and  Beverage producers (bottle-fillers) - Mineral water and soft drinks The members of the quality asso- ciation gain the right to use the recog- nised RAL certification mark by volun- tarily submitting to the testing criteria of the RAL quality assurance process. A consulting committee safeguards the high quality level of the work done by the quality committee. The quality criteria are audited and then certified by a recognised testing institute. We spoke to Georg Pescher, the Quality Association’s Deputy Chair and Alpla’s Operations’ Manager since 2009. He is responsible for Alpla’s site in Exter as well as various other plants in Germany. Preforms are pro- duced in Exter according to Quality Association’s criteria. Prior to joining Alpla, Mr Pescher worked in the pack- aging industry (production and deco- ration) for CCL and occupied a senior position dealing with production and developmental issues in Germany, France and the USA. On finishing his studies, he joined Procter and Gamble where he worked in R&D for 10 years. PETplanet: You have been work- ing for Alpla for eight years now. What is happening at the Exter plant under your watch? Pescher: We make bottles and preforms at our Exter site which was established back in 1974. Bottles are produced from PET and polyolefins using extrusion and stretch blow- moulding techniques. Here at Exter, we newly started making wide-neck jars with an injection-moulded neck and tubes using the extrusion blow-mould- ing process. Alpla produces up to 1.5 billion preforms and 300 to 350 million bottles per year at the Exter site. 60% of preforms go to local customers working in the beverage sector, with the remaining 40% blown into bottles at either the company’s own premises or at Alpla’s sister plants. Preforms in the plant are produced with up to 100% PET reycling material. PETplanet: How did the collabora- tion with the RAL quality association come about and what is the extent of Alpla’s involvement? Pescher: The German Association for Plastics Packagings and Films, IK, approached Alpla to ask if any interest had been expressed in working with the RAL. Alpla has been involved with RAL from the very beginning. Qual- ity and associated test guidelines and methods were jointly discussed and agreed during the course of several working sessions with other funding members and experts from the indus- try. Commitment to the certification makes sense for Alpla as it is consist- ent with the company’s sustainabil- ity goals and we are convinced that the use of high-quality PET recycling material represents a sustainable and viable product concept. For us, the RAL certification mark is a clear sus- tainability statement. For that reason, we, along with a number of plants working in preforms (Berlin, Exter) and in recyclate production (PRT Wöllersdorf), have RAL certification. PETplanet: How does application of the certification mark criteria affect the production process? Georg Pescher, the Quality Associa- tion’s Deputy Chair and Alpla’s Opera- tions’ Manager Examples of preforms and bottles with 80% rPET content. Quality according to RAL requirements, produced by Alpla