Plastic packaging and recycling specialist Alpla is marking its 70th anniversary, tracing a path from a laundry room in Hard by Lake Constance to a global player with 200 locations in 46 countries. The family-owned company employs more than 24,000 people who develop, manufacture and recycle rigid plastic packaging for consumer goods markets across Europe, the Americas, Africa and Asia. Its solutions aim to support safe and affordable consumption for billions of end users and serve customers across numerous industries. As a system provider, Alpla integrates design, production and recycling, supported by seven development centres and four one-stop shops for product design operated under the Studioa banner. The company also runs the "Plastic is fantastic" initiative to promote the benefits of plastics based on facts and to support consumer education. At an anniversary event on 12 September, CEO Philipp Lehner outlined priorities for the next phase of growth, emphasising quality, high recycling standards and targeted expansion into new markets and technologies.
From a laundry room to a global technology leader
Founded in 1955 by brothers Alwin and Helmuth Lehner, Alpla advanced from a small family business to a global technology leader in rigid plastic packaging. The trajectory was driven by a combination of technology focus, a pioneering mindset and team cohesion. The company’s innovation record includes the Alplamat extrusion blow moulding machine introduced in 1958, the first in-house production plant located directly at a customer site in 1985 and the world’s first two-step PET bottle in the same year. In 1990, Alpla began early use of post-consumer recycled material. More recent developments include the industrialisation of bio-based paper bottles and biodegradable coffee capsules. These milestones reflect a consistent approach to packaging design and manufacturing, with continuous upgrades to processes and materials.
System approach and industry initiatives
Alpla positions itself as a system provider delivering packaging solutions from a single source, with activities spanning development, production and recycling. The company reports that it sets quality standards across these stages through its global network of development centres and its Studioa design hubs. Alongside technical competencies, Alpla promotes plastics literacy via its "Plastic is fantastic" initiative, aiming to explain material properties and benefits to consumers based on data and application experience.
CEO Philipp Lehner (third from left) reflected on Alpla’s successes and looked ahead to the future at the company’s 70th anniversary celebrations in the Festspielhaus Bregenz.
Leadership, investment focus and outlook
In the 1990s, under the leadership of Günther Lehner, Alpla expanded its role in recycling and consolidated its system-provider model. Since 2021, CEO Philipp Lehner has led the group as the third generation of the family. Speaking at the 70th anniversary celebration, he stated: "We have grown enormously and always remained true to our values. We will continue to do both. To this end, we are focusing on our strengths in our core business, relying on high-quality recycling and specifically tapping into new markets and technologies. And we are exploring the unknown with bold ideas."
To maintain its pioneering role, Alpla plans investments in digitalisation, automation and circular economy models. Lehner highlighted internal cooperation within the "Family of Pioneers" and long-term strategic planning as competitive advantages, saying: "We support each other and continuously improve. This is how we have grown into a strong and reliable brand over the past 70 years, for customers, partners and as an employer. This is also our recipe for success for the future."
