About us
1,100 staff involved
in sustainability
We operate four production plants. To serve markets in Bolivia, Peru, Chile, Mexico, El Salvador, Honduras, Costa Rica, Panama, Nicaragua, Belize, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Dominican Republic.
Women: 182
Men: 918
A transparent and solid governance
Plastilene Group has a general meeting of shareholders, a board of directors, and a president. Governance is also carried out through the vice-presidencies (Finance; Logistics, Projects & IT; Operations; Procurement and Sustainability; Human Resources) and the general management of each business.
Each month, the Board discusses matters relating to the triple impact (social, environmental, and economic); for example, new projects and investments, as well as labor, legal, safety and social responsibility aspects, among others.
Sustainability strategy
COMMITMENTS
.
Circular
Economy
To facilitate the circular economy for plastics, the achievement of our customers’ sustainable commitments, and compliance with legislation relating to our materials.
.
Environmental
Commitment
To be carbon-neutral companies and to contribute to ecosystem regeneration.
.
Sustainable
Portfolio
To develop and offer the market a competitive portfolio of sustainable products based on eco-design principles that will enable customers to achieve their corporate sustainability targets.
.
Social
Commitment
To be socially-responsible companies by providing our staff with wellbeing and supporting vulnerable communities in our areas of influence.
Areas on which we focus our efforts
The material issues defined in 2021 remained active in 2022. We also maintained out priority stakeholders:
Our supply chain
- We strengthened the United States supply chain for the Plastilene Inc. operation in Washington Court House, Ohio.
- With the help of strategic partners in North America, we developed new supply models for the companies in Latin America.
- In the field of international logistics, we achieved improvements in freight charges and the availability of reserves. However, we were unable to get back to traditional lead times due to availability and itinerary matters.
- Logistical delays in Colombia due to heavy rains which affected the supply of wood and paper materials.
- We reinforced the recuperated materials supply chain, with improvements in classification and selection together with waste pickers and industrial promoters.
- We developed new formulas and better technologies for strengthening Reciclene CICLOLENE PCR pellets.
- We visited the K fair in Dusseldorf, Germany, where we identified new flexible packaging materials for foodstuffs that are 100% compostable, both with and without barrier.
- Frost in Houston in late-2022 will impact materials prices in early 2023.
2023.
Financial data
Our economic results were as follows:
This is how we have coordinated and communicated with our stakeholders and informed them.
2018
- We approached the youngest ones. We educated schoolchildren in Tocancipá about plastic and separating waste.
- We also made people aware at home. We exposed our staff to the sustainability strategy for the first time via Plastilene University.
2019
- We began the process of consolidating a sustainability community.
- During the first three months online, we built a community of 912 followers, who we informed of the benefits and the correct use of plastics.
- We published our first Sustainability Report, to describe the progress we made in the area and to state our sustainable commitments to our stakeholders.
2020
- We brought in more partners outside Colombia, thanks to the live transmission of the publication of our second report.
- We emphasized the fact that the Circular Economy message is a commitment by all actors in the chain, with an active role to play in closing the plastics loop with a social impact.
- We introduced Plastilene News, a format with a wider scope that would give our sustainability partners a voice.
- We activated a newsletter in order to be closer to our customers.
- We made ourselves known on webinars and in academic forums.
- Active participation in the industry. We joined collective initiatives in Colombia, Guatemala, and the United States.
2021
- We joined Asoleche, in order to inform this industry about the sustainability of our packaging.
- We won the European Foundation for Management Development – EFMD Global Award for the case study about our sustainability strategy.
- We presented out third Sustainability Report together with Cempre, Marce la Recicladora and Sofía Gómez, a young environmental activist, at the inauguration of our post-consumption plant that will transform 10,000 tonnes of plastic per year.
- We paid tribute to waste pickers, the heart of the circular economy.
2022
- We joined the LOOP-ICIPC good practices in plastic packaging communication initiative.
- We found that the backgrounds to computer screens are an important corporate communication channel.
- We presented our fourth Sustainability Report, which highlighted the Group’s early days, together with our founder’s commitment and his interpretation of the Circular Economy since the company came into being.
- We reached more than 10,000 online followers, chatting with them and involving them in the recycling of plastic, the circular economy, and sustainable habits.
- We were closer to academia.
- We took part in chats, webinars and talks on the subject of sustainability with undergraduate and postgraduate students.
- We reinforced communications about the circular economy of plastics in Colombia, in conjunction with Andi, Cempre and Acoplásticos.
2023
Transformed our fifth Sustainability Report into a live and dynamic format. The new report is updated in real time by our mission driven employees.
Held a sustainability workshop with our commercial team. This space allowed us to share practical experiences and check in on projects in different industries – agricultural, food, drinks, and recycled materials.
Strengthened our partnerships with clients, suppliers, and banks through our first sustainability tours.
Joined the Plastics Pact, showcasing our ongoing commitment to a circular plastics economy in Colombia.
Gave a talk at Bavaria on “Zero Emissions Efforts”, promoting responsible business practices.
Participated in Visión 30/30’s webinar. The webinar allowed us to share our initiatives and learn from experts in the field
In collaboration with Essi, we filmed a podcast about milk packaging evolution, highlighting its role in improving its transportation, extending its lifespan, accessibility, and reducing its carbon footprint.
At Universidad Piloto, we were invited to talk about plastic substitutes, what role citizens play, our recycling center, and our collaboration with our main suppliers, waste pickers.
Attended Procolombia’s Macrorrueda, motivating business leaders to develop sustainability strategies and sharing our own experience.
It was the first time two of Grupo Plastilene’s companies participated in conferences and shared our sustainable portfolio: Agroplásticos at the National Convention of Technological Innovations for the Conservation of the Andine Environment, and Plastilene INC at SPC Impact in the US
We surprised students at INALDE during one of Professor Santiago Salazar’s lectures with the results of some life cycle analysis we ran. These results compared plastics with other materials, we also spoke about our work with PCR and our involvement in every step of its production and supply chain to ensure quality.
Spoke at Universidad Externado alongside MinAmbiente, Cempre, Acoplásticos, and Postobón about how a proper use of the newly instated plastic tax can provide opportunities for the industry.
Our social media grew 31% in a year! We are more connected than ever, and are able to speak about recycling, circular economies, and plastics innovation.
Celebrated Recycling Day alongside one of Plastilene’s clients in Cali, Colombia. This in an effort to promote environmental stewardship and recycling.
