It is important to highlight two important celebrations for our planet: World Day for the Protection of Nature and the International Day against Climate Change. The first was established with the aim of raising awareness in the population about the need to take care of the planet and the second to warn about the devastating effects of climate change in the world.

Good intentions that must be supported by actions that implement individual or corporate contributions to achieve both objectives. The development of the present should never jeopardize the future. That is why plastic packaging re-evolves with APS.

THE CONTRIBUTION OF APS TO THE RE-EVOLUTION OF PLASTIC PACKAGING

Aware of our belonging to an essential sector for economic development, we are faithful to our DNA and therefore at APS we have developed our corporate strategy based on the sustainable and environmentally friendly manufacture of our plastic packaging for chemical products, also doing it in a friendly and beneficent way with people and being responsible to society.

Under the premises of eco-design, we develop new products that contain post-consumer recycled plastic, together with the implementation of a new technology (Plasma Fluorination) to produce plastic packaging that provides a good level of development, trying to reduce or eliminate its impact on nature, and at the same time maintaining the protection of the packaged product.

At the same time, to contribute to the minimization of climate impact, we work under the ISO 14001 Environmental Management System that helps us correct all processes to achieve maximum efficiency in this area. In addition, we undergo the evaluation of the sustainability ratings agency EcoVadis, which promotes the transparency of sustainability practices and assesses the performance of aspects of Environment, Labor Practices and Human Rights, Ethics and Sustainable Procurement, awarding us with the silver distinction in sustainability for this year 2022.

Development should not risk the future of nature

Trying to avoid that the development of the present does not risk the future of nature, in APS...

✅ we work on the basis of an environmental management system  according to ISO 14001,

✅ we rely on eco-design to develop our packaging, increasingly sustainable,

✅ we implement new manufacturing technologies, such as Plasma Fluorination,  which allow us to market 100% recyclable barrier packaging for the packaging of chemical products,

✅ we try to incorporate the maximum percentage of PCR (post-consumer plastic) in our packaging favoring the circular economy,

✅ we undergo the assessment of the sustainability ratings agency EcoVadis,

✅ we are aware of what it means to belong to a sector essential for economic development and our investments and efforts are focused on adding value,

APS, building a sustainable future

ALCION PACKAGING SOLUTIONS participates in the ECOFILLINK project in which AIMPLAS works. It is coordinated by the Institute of Ceramic Technology (ITC) and funded by the Valencian Institute of Business Competitiveness (IVACE) through the ERDF (European Regional Development Funds).

The waste of contaminated plastic containers with the rest of inks used in ink-jet printing technology for the decoration of ceramic tiles nowadays, reach 500t per year with a volume of 10,650 m3.  The recycling of such plastic containers is highly complicated due to the remaining product that might come out and get in contact with water. On the other hand, it is considered that, at least, 5% of ink remains attached to the inner wall of their packaging. This means that 3.6 million euros per year are thrown away inside these plastic containers.

ALCION considers its participation in the ECOFILLINK project, whose target is to reduce the environmental impact generated by ink-jet plastic packaging, being aware of the importance of optimising plastic packaging for the storage and transport of these inks, firstly, minimizing their environmental impact by implementing various eco-design strategies in packaging, secondly and, working on the management of their circular economy-oriented waste, allowing maximum permanence of resources in the economy as a consequence of them all.

The ceramic tile industry of the Valencian Community in Spain manufactures 90% of the production of the sector.  According to our corporate values, minimising the impact of these plastic containers reusing them at least five times and then recycling them for their use in the same or in other applications, can have a hugely significant environmental impact in a geographical area that is our natural environment.

What is the ECOFILLINK project?

The project proposes to work on three essential aspects in these plastic packaging used in a sector of primary activity in our region:

1. Try to get a complete emptying of the ink inside the plastic container. It is estimated that nowadays 5% of the ink remains inside the container. The objective of the project is to lower this percentage up to ±2%, achieving, thus, a greater use of the product.
2. Work on the Eco-design line. To achieve that emptying improvement through plastic packaging by redesign options and modifying the inner surface of the plastic container to generate an ink-repellent surface that slips out better.
3. Achieve improvements in the recycling of plastic packaging. To analyse how much plastic will be reused, how it will be decontaminated to promote the washing of materials, etc.

At ALCION we work in accordance with our corporate policy based on sustainable security and on the Circular Economy, without risking the final functionality of the packaging, trying to turn the waste that plastic industry generates, into new resources.