The Alpla Group, the global packaging solutions and recycling specialist, in cooperation with joint venture partner Glatfelter Corporation, a leading global supplier of engineered materials, announces their partnership with Blue Ocean Closures (BOC), a start-up based in the region of Värmland in Sweden, to develop innovative natural fiber-based closures and other moulded packaging products using dry forming technology.
“We are investing continuously in the research and use of alternative, bio-based packaging materials to complement our product portfolio,” stated Christian Zmölnig, director of corporate research, development, and innovation at Alpla. “Now, we are looking forward to bringing our expertise into the new cooperation with Glatfelter and BOC.”
As part of this sustainable partnership, Alpla and Glatfelter are joining together to invest in developing high-quality cellulose-based products like screw caps that are fully bio-based and potentially ocean biodegradable. This unique collaboration will support BOC in its product development and shorten time to market even further.
“This partnership brings together like-minded companies that share similar sustainable objectives and goals,” said Chris Astley, senior vice president, and chief commercial officer of Glatfelter. “We are excited to partner with Alpla and BOC to make more innovative and eco-friendly products that will have a lasting effect on our world.”
Lars Sandberg, chief executive officer of BOC, said, “We are pleased about the partnership with leading companies from the industry. In addition to a common vision for a sustainable future, they also bring enormous competencies in the field of production technology and materials science into our company.”
Advancing the circular economy with Alpla
The partnership with Glatfelter and BOC is in line with Alpla’s strategic focus of increased investment in the circular economy. The 4Rs – Replace, Reduce, Reuse and Recycle, are crucial to advance forward-looking activities and identify action areas.
The Replace research field comprises research into and using alternative, bio-based and recyclable materials to expand and complement the product portfolio.
Alpla has been involved in developing paper-based bottles with the company Paboco since 2019, and in 2018 unveiled a home-compostable coffee capsule to the public.
Reduce focuses on an ongoing reduction in material consumption, Reuse is all about optimizing the properties of plastic bottles for reuse systems, and Recycle addresses the overarching objective of keeping as much plastic as possible in the recycling cycle.
