After less than a year of construction and a successful trial run lasting several months, the time has finally come: TriPlast, Europe's most modern and Austria's largest sorting plant for lightweight packaging, was officially opened by its owners ARA, Bernegger and Der Grüne Punkt together with Climate Protection Minister Leonore Gewessler and Governor Thomas Stelzer. The circular economy project in Ennshafen has an annual capacity of 100,000 tons and will create more than 60 new green jobs thanks to the investment of EUR 65 million.

Upper Austria, Ennshafen, June 28, 2024 – The owners ARA, Bernegger and GreenDot/Der Grüne Punkt hosted the grand opening of the new sorting plant for lightweight packaging in Ennshafen on Friday.
 

"Austria has set itself the goal of doubling the recycling of plastic packaging by 2025. TriPlast processes valuable materials for subsequent recycling and thus saves raw materials. The new plant is therefore an important building block for the Austrian circular economy and also strengthens climate protection," said Austria’s Climate Protection Minister Leonore Gewessler.

For Upper Austria’s Governor Thomas Stelzer, the project embodies a win-win situation: "TriPlast benefits not only the environment, but also Upper Austria as a place to work and do business. TriPlast opens up great market opportunities for the industrial location of Ennshafen and strengthens our position as a European innovation pioneer in the field of sustainable industry."

Secondary raw materials for Austrian industry

TriPlast has a sorting capacity of 100,000 tons of plastic and metal packaging per year. This means that 50% of all Austrian lightweight packaging can be sorted. Packaging is processed in such a way that it can then be turned into recyclate and used to manufacture new packaging or other products. More than 20 different raw materials can be turned back into products such as shampoo bottles, canisters, films or components for the automotive and electrical industries. "With our strategic partnership and the cross-border joint venture, we are preparing Austria and the EU for the recycling quotas from 2025. TriPlast can process an incredible 20 tons per hour and is three times the size of existing plants in Austria. We want to reduce Austria's dependence on raw materials and provide the industry with high-quality raw materials," emphasized ARA CEO Harald Hauke.

Kurt Bernegger, Managing Director of Bernegger GmbH, emphasized the central location: "The location at Ennshafen in Upper Austria allows trimodal connections by truck, rail and ship. The plant network at the site enables a self-sufficient supply of sustainable energy. As a result, we provide low-emission and climate-friendly secondary raw materials for a successful circular economy and take joint responsibility for our environment and future generations."

Laurent Auguste, CEO of Der Grüne Punkt, emphasized the cross-border partnership: "The scarcity of resources in Europe requires a strategic reorientation and determined sustainable action. This includes cooperation and investment in the circular economy of the future – such as the pioneering merger of TriPlast."

TriPlast strengthens Upper Austria location

State-of-the-art technology was installed in the plant: 2.5 km of conveyor belt, 160 km of cable, 2,250 tons of reinforcing steel, 38 near-infrared devices and three screening drums. "With a hall height of 25 meters, the new plant will be one of the highest in Europe, ensuring low space consumption and an efficient material flow," emphasize TriPlast Managing Directors Jürgen Secklehner, Kurt Bernegger and Denis Völler. "TriPlast is also a secure employer in the area of 'green jobs' – we are currently looking for employees ranging from shift supervisors and fitters to electricians." Interested parties can find out more on the website www.triplast.at.

About the ARA
The future. Cycle. Economy. Altstoff Recycling Austria AG (ARA) has been a driving force in the Austrian waste and recycling industry for more than 30 years and is the market leader in collection and recycling systems for packaging, waste electrical and electronic equipment and batteries. ARA, with its subsidiaries ARAplus GmbH, Austria Glas Recycling GmbH, DiGiDO GmbH, Digi-Cycle GmbH, ERA GmbH and TriPlast GmbH, is today regarded as international best practice and, as a partner to the economy, develops tailor-made disposal solutions in the waste and recycling industry: from decommissioning and material flow management to circular design and digitalization of the circular economy. ARA AG serves more than 15,000 customers. It is owned by domestic companies and operates as a non-profit organization. www.ara.at

About Bernegger
We have been moving sustainably for more than 75 years. Founded as a family business in Molln, Bernegger is active in the fields of construction, raw materials and the environment. Today, innovative projects are implemented at 20 locations with around 1000 employees through handshake quality, courage and many strong hands, which have even been awarded national and international sustainability prizes.  We make an important contribution to an intact environment, particularly in the areas of recycling and waste management. Compliance with high environmental protection standards is particularly important to us. Our activities are all about the circular economy, which is not just being introduced at Bernegger, but is already a way of life. www.bernegger.at  

About GreenDot/Der Grüne Punkt
As a service provider for extended producer responsibility, a leading supplier of secondary raw materials for plastics and a premium producer of plastic recyclates, Der Grüne Punkt is the solution provider for the needs of the circular economy. Der Grüne Punkt Holding GmbH & Co KG helped to introduce and establish the dual system in Germany with the Grüner Punkt^® trademark and stands for intelligent take-back systems as well as the development and marketing of innovative recyclates and services. Systec Plastics produces premium recyclates under the Systalen^® brand for the international market at its Eisfeld and Hörstel sites. The companies of Der Grüne Punkt Holding GmbH & Co. KG belong to the Green Dot Global S.à r.l. group of companies. www.gruener-punkt.de

If you have any questions, please contact:

ARA AG
Simone de Raaij                    
Phone: +43.01.599 97-310
E-mail: simone.deraaij(at)ara.at

GreenDot/Der Grüne Punkt
Norbert Völl
Phone : +49 2203 937507
E-mail: norbert.voell(at)gruener-punkt.de

Bernegger
Melanie Gsöllhofer
Tel. +43.664.78.29.91.91
E-Mail : melanie.gsoellhofer(at)bernegger.at

Picture: f.l.t.r.: Kurt Bernegger sen., Management Board Bernegger GmbH, Laurent Auguste, CEO Der Grüne Punkt, Thomas Stelzer, Governor Upper Austria, Kurt Bernegger jun., TriPlast Managing Director, Leonore Gewessler, Climate Protection Minister, Harald Hauke, ARA Management Board, Jürgen Secklehner, TriPlast Managing Director, Denis Völler, TriPlast Managing Director

(©) Hermann Walkolbinger