Alpla, together with partners, is establishing the international association Plastic is Fantastic, whose aim is to promote the responsible use of plastics and support solutions aligned with the circular economy. The new organization, headquartered in Vienna, is intended to bring together companies that use polymers and engage them in a fact-based dialogue on the role of materials in sustainable development. The announced activities include disseminating reliable information about the properties and life cycles of plastics, as well as advancing practices that support better utilization and oversight of PET and other polymer flows. The initiative draws on the experience of the Polish #rePETujemy campaign, launched by Alpla Poland in 2021. Its premise was to structure the debate around plastics and limit misinformation, which in subsequent stages evolved into educational activities aimed at early primary school children. The outcomes to date - including broad communication reach and the inclusion of LCA-based data - provided the impetus to give the project a broader, international scope under Plastic is Fantastic.
Origins and scope of activities
The project originated in Poland, where the #rePETujemy educational campaign was launched in 2021. In its first phase it focused on reducing misinformation about plastics. From early 2022 the scope was expanded to the #rePETujemy Environmental Education Program for pupils in grades 1–3 of primary schools. To date, three editions have been carried out, covering 120 schools and more than 2,200 pupils working with prepared lesson plans.
“We invite companies from different sectors of the circular economy to work together, to create educational programs, promote the responsible use of materials and inspire positive market change,” says Anna Urbańska, coordinator of the #rePETujemy campaign at Alpla’s Polish branch.
Outcomes and public perception
According to data cited within the campaign, the share of Poles who consider plastics more harmful than their alternatives has been steadily declining. In 2020, before the start of the educational activities, it was 66 percent; in 2024, 55 percent. This change was supported by thousands of media publications based on reliable communication and research results, including LCA (Life Cycle Assessment). Since the start of activity on social media - Facebook, Instagram and TikTok - the campaign’s messaging has reached more than 10 million people in Poland.
“Although the individual campaigns run by Alpla subsidiaries are diverse, they have in common that criticism and polemics are kept to a minimum. The facts are on our side. We see it in talks with NGOs and activists, as well as in discussions with policymakers. That confirms the validity of our strategy,” reports Dominic Fiel, Director of Corporate Marketing and Communications at Alpla Group.
