ALPLA, Vida Circular launch plastic bottle recycling initiative in Mexico

MEXICO – Global packaging and recycling company ALPLA has launched a new plastic recycling initiative in Mexico City in partnership with circular logistics provider Vida Circular, aiming to recycle more than 200,000 plastic bottles each year.

The program is designed to move beyond public awareness campaigns and focus on establishing practical recycling infrastructure, enabling communities to actively participate in plastic waste recovery and separation.

The first collection point has been opened in Iztapalapa, one of the capital’s largest districts. According to ALPLA, the facility is expected to benefit around 30,000 residents, providing a dedicated location for separating recyclable plastics including PET, HDPE and polypropylene (PP) bottles.

“The circular economy needs more than good intentions, it needs infrastructure and cooperation,” said Carlos Torres, Managing Director of ALPLA for Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean.

“This initiative demonstrates how industry and government can work together to achieve tangible environmental progress.”

The initiative forms part of ALPLA’s Plastic is Fantastic Initiative, which promotes responsible plastic use and recycling while encouraging collaboration between businesses, governments and communities to improve circular material flows.

Supporting Mexico’s circular economy transition

The project comes as Mexico advances the implementation of its General Circular Economy Law, aimed at strengthening recycling systems and reducing waste through improved resource management.

As part of its broader commitment to the country’s circular economy, ALPLA will also assume the chairmanship of the recycling division within the Asociación Nacional de Industrias del Plástico (ANIPAC) for the 2026–2028 term.

According to the company, this dual approach, combining infrastructure development with industry leadership, reflects its long-term strategy to strengthen recycling systems in emerging markets.

The recycling initiative comes amid wider developments in Mexico’s packaging and recycling landscape.

Recently, Canadian technology company Aduro Clean Technologies partnered with the industry association ECOCE to evaluate the potential use of Hydrochemolytic Technology for processing post-consumer flexible and mixed plastic packaging.

Meanwhile, packaging equipment manufacturer Sidel has supplied expanded returnable PET and glass bottling lines to Grupo Gepp, the exclusive bottler for PepsiCo in Mexico.

In addition, carton packaging specialist SIG has expanded its production footprint in the country to meet growing demand for beverage packaging solutions.

Industry observers say initiatives like the ALPLA–Vida Circular program highlight the increasing importance of localized recycling infrastructure as companies seek to close the loop on packaging materials and support circular economy goals in rapidly growing markets.

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