Our Essence - Reporte de Sostenibilidad

Our essence
has always been SUSTAINABLE

About us

1.414 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.

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

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.

2025

We shared with La Sabana University students how our Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives relate to a circular economy of plastics.
We were part of the launch of The Pulse of a Circular Economy, organized by Cempre.
We gave a presentation during Plastics Week, highlightung our experience with Ciclolene’s postconsumer recycled resins and sustainable compounds.
At Guatemala’s Green Ideas, we shared how Technofilms integrates innovation, sustainability, and food safety into flexible packaging.
We communicated the results of the innovation program with Bogota’s Chamber of Commerce.
We attended Proflora and spoke to our clients and allies about greenhouse plastics technology and how they can be used for flower growth and exports.
With a new sustainable innovation talk we developed, we received a sustainability award from ICIPC in Medellín.
For the second time, our Sustainability and Global Purchasing VP was part of the ADI Forum 2025 in Chicago, giving a talk on poliolefins.
We attended Nation Berries where we presented our materials designed to facilitate pollination and a more efficient cranberry production.
For the third year in a row at Technofilms we supported Ecoaprendiendo by donating materials to manufacture awards: playgrounds for children made out of recycled plastic at our Amatitlán facility.
We led a meeting with the Southern Flower Growers Corporation (CFS) where we presented our responsible end of life model for greenhouse plastics and bringing waste managers into the conversation.
We brought students from the Andes University for a second phase of programming where we presented real challenges in our supply chain so post graduate students could propose applied solutions. This is all related to topics they have learned in class.
At Reciclene we welcomed businesses from Spain and Denmark to work on the GREEN IMPACKT project framework, a Clean, ANDI, and Spanish Packaging Cluster initiative that looks to strengthen the smes of the plastics industry in Colombia.
We presented our shrinkwrap packaging with Colombian PCR content alongside Exxon Mobil and Postobón.
We supported our clients Dümmen Orange and NIRP’s showrooms in Ecuador, strengthening relationships and exploring new collaboration opportunities.
We participated in Seafood Expo North America, connecting with clients and strategic allies such as J.D. Pack, Blue Glacier, Seafares and Lagoon Seafood.
We attended Andinapack with W&M, Exxon, Casablanca and Pronaca, and shared our success stories with the Water Quench technology.
Alongside Dow Chemicals, we launched our new material paperlike family for dairy, meat, frozen and baked goods. These are designed to be a replacement for EPS trays and were presented at PackExpo in Las Vegas, and Düsseldorf’s K Fair.

2024

At Altalene we received the “Headed Towards Environmental Excellence” certification from the District Environmental Secretariat.
In Guatemala, we trained our team in Technofilms to adapt to new waste management legislation and to adopt more sustainable habits.
ICAMA invited us to the first Sustainable Development Congress in Amatitlán, Guatemala.
As part of the launch of the Plastics Pact, we reinforced our commitment to work towards a circular economy.
During an academic session at INALDE we had the opportunity to share Grupo Plastilene’s case study.
Reciclene, Plastilene and Altalene shared our PCR resins portfolio as well as our products that have incorporated recycled plastic at Colombiaplast 2024.
Our VP of Sustainability represented us at the Plastic Recycling Conference in Texas.
For the first time in Chicago we were part of PackExpo where we showed our capabilities when it comes to innovation and our ongoing commitment to sustainability.
We exhibited our Ciclolene PCR flexible packaging at the PPS 39 Conference in Cartagena.
In Spain at Agricultural Film 2024 we shared our projects and developments in the agricultural sector.
On the podcast Hablemos de Floricultura de Ecuador (Let’s talk about floriculture in Ecuador) we educated listeners about greenhouse plastic management and how it has to be treated as special waste within a circular economy.
We were part of the third Seminario Hortofrutícola in Cauca.
As part of SIFLOR we shared our innovations for the agricultural sector.
Plastilene and Technofilms held their very first sustainable innovation fairs.
Coca-Cola awarded us in the ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) area.
Our client GHT invited us to participate at their Polyethylene School.
To educate our followers on social media and our partners we shared clear and useful information regarding the Colombian Resolution 803 of 2024.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.