Alpla spreads the word that ‘Plastic Is Fantastic'

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster):Packaging maker Alpla Group is using the K 2025 to launch the Plastic Is Fantastic Association (North Entrance N05), with a global social media communications campaign that it sees bringing a "factual, evidence-based voice" to debates over plastic.

The fledgling association, which also includes other PET packaging-related companies and trade groups, said it's starting with a six-digit euros annual budget but hopes to grow that to an effort valued at more than 1 million euros to talk up the benefits of plastics.

"We see ourselves as the advertising agency for the industry," said Dominic Fiel, executive director of the association and group head of marketing and communications Alpla.

"Other associations have technical working groups for recycling, for sustainability, for other things," he said. "But this is not what we want to do. We are solely focused on communications and spreading the word."

The group said it wants to build public awareness of plastic benefits like food safety and lightweighting, and tackle what it sees as misinformation in the public square about the material.

"We see ourselves as the first global movement for a new, positive awareness of plastic, something that is urgently needed," said Fiel.

The new group plans to build on the social media campaigns that Alpla, which is one of the world's largest makers of plastics packaging, has launched in 23 countries over the last four years.

It says those efforts have attracted 1.2 million social media followers and 700 million views.

The startup association has only a few members: equipment maker Husky Technologies (Hall 13 A61), resin maker Indorama, and several trade groups: Petcore Europe, the National Association of PET Container Resources and the International Bottled Water Association.

But Fiel, in an interview at the association's booth at K 2025, said it is hoping to recruit more companies during the fair, which is one of the world's largest plastics shows and runs from Oct. 8-15 in Düsseldorf.

"We hope we can sign some contracts during the K show," he said. "I've had many, many calls over the last months. There is a very good momentum around the initiative currently."

 Courtesy: www.plasticsnews.com