Saica Group strengthens circular economy footprint with FCC Ambito acquisition in Spain

SPAIN – Integrated packaging and paper solutions provider Saica Group has expanded its recovery and recycling footprint in Spain with the acquisition of the paper and corrugated board recovery operations of FCC Ambito.

The transaction was executed through Saica Natur, the group’s waste management and environmental services division, further reinforcing Saica’s circular economy strategy across the Iberian Peninsula.

The deal covers FCC Ambito’s recovery activities in Madrid as well as northern and western Spain, with operations primarily focused on the collection and recovery of paper and cardboard, alongside other non-hazardous industrial and commercial waste streams.

As part of the agreement, Saica assumes control of seven facilities located in Madrid, Cáceres, Valladolid, Asturias, Vizcaya, León and Toledo.

The acquired business employs more than 150 people and reported turnover of €33 million (US$38.9 million) in 2024.

Following completion, Saica Natur now operates a total of 47 plants, including 36 sites in Spain, with additional operations in France, Portugal, the UK and Poland. The division’s workforce has grown to over 1,700 employees.

Saica Group president and CEO Susana Alejandro described the acquisition as a strategic move to consolidate the company’s regional presence.

“This is a strategic step that consolidates our presence in Iberia,” she said. “It allows us to incorporate a highly qualified team with recognized prestige in the sector, strengthening our value proposition for customers across the Iberian Peninsula.”

For FCC Enviro, the transaction aligns with its broader portfolio optimization strategy. CEO Íñigo Sanz noted that the divestment supports asset rotation efforts.

“This transaction is very satisfactory and is part of our policy of asset rotation and optimization to maximize shareholder value and focus on our development strategy,” he said.

The acquisition comes amid heightened investment activity by Saica Group across its four divisions—Saica Paper, Saica Natur, Saica Pack and Saica Flex—as the company positions itself for long-term growth driven by sustainability, recycling capacity and packaging demand.

Internationally, Saica continues to scale up its manufacturing footprint. In March, the group announced plans to build a new state-of-the-art corrugated packaging plant in Anderson, Indiana, marking its second corrugated facility in the US.

The project forms part of Saica’s wider US$800 million US expansion strategy, with the Anderson investment alone exceeding US$110 million.

Construction of the 350,000-square-foot facility is expected to begin in May 2025, with operations slated for the fourth quarter of 2026.

Designed for annual production of more than 1.2 million MSF of corrugated packaging, the plant will enhance supply chain resilience, serve as a backup site for customers supplied from Ohio, and leverage direct rail access to improve logistics efficiency.

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