ALPLA and PTT Global Chemical open Thailand’s largest food‑grade PET/HDPE recycling plant
- Annual capacity 45,000 tonnes of recycled plastic: 30,000 t food‑grade rPET and 15,000 t rHDPE for bottle‑to‑bottle use.
- ENVICCO plant in Map Ta Phut, Rayong started production after about 18 months of construction and a grand opening on 13 September.
- Recyclates produced at the site have USFDA approval for food‑grade applications.
- Joint venture led by PTT Global Chemical with ALPLA support will start with roughly 180 employees on a 90,000 m² plot (30,000 m² plant), leaving space for expansion.
Plant and capacity
After about 18 months of construction, the ENVICCO joint‑venture plant in the Map Ta Phut Industrial Estate, Rayong, has started production following a grand opening on 13 September. The facility occupies 30,000 m² on a 90,000 m² plot and has an annual production capacity of 45,000 tonnes: 30,000 tonnes of food‑grade rPET and 15,000 tonnes of rHDPE for bottle‑to‑bottle applications. The recyclates are produced with USFDA approval.
Ownership and operations
The joint venture is led by majority shareholder PTT Global Chemical (GC) together with ALPLA, which contributes more than 25 years of recycling experience. ENVICCO will process used plastics sourced entirely from within Thailand and will supply ALPLA's production facilities in Asia; the operation will employ about 180 people at start‑up.
Strategic context
GC positions the plant as part of its long‑term circular economy strategy and as aligned with Thailand’s Bio‑Circular‑Green Economy Model. ALPLA has signalled a broader push to globalise high‑quality recyclate production, having announced in early 2021 plans to invest an average of €50 million per year until 2025; ALPLA’s worldwide recycling capacity currently totals roughly 203,000 tonnes of rPET and 74,000 tonnes of rHDPE annually.
Expansion potential
The site retains space for future capacity expansions. Partners stated ambitions to promote bottle‑to‑bottle cycles across Asia and other regions to reduce carbon emissions and waste through optimized resource consumption.
Source: blog.alpla.com