People - employee engagement and society

Two ALPLA employees wearing protective clothing talking on a production line, highlighting collaboration, quality, and safe working conditions.

We promote professional and personal development

Our employees drive innovation, quality and long-term success. That is why we focus on respect for human rights, equal opportunities, safety, fairness and honesty.

 

Global workforce 24,350 employees (2024)

Goal: reduce health and safety risks by 60% by 2030.

Goal: childcare at 50% of our plants by 2026.

ALPLA has grown steadily in recent years. Around the world, there were 24,350 people working for the company at the end of 2024. The employees are crucial to success, act as company ambassadors and continuously shape ALPLA’s public image. The aim is to have enthusiastic and productive employees who apply their expertise and skills in the right positions. We therefore offer not only a work environment with excellent development opportunities, but also voluntary social benefits and a good work-life balance.

As an employer, ALPLA bears significant responsibility for its employees and their families. The top priority is the safety and good health of the employees. Another fundamental prerequisite here is compliance with all labour law provisions and the equal treatment of all individuals. ALPLA also sets great store by continuing professional development, employee development and training up a new generation of workers in its training workshops.

Equal treatment of all employees

The people who work for ALPLA are important to us. We treat everybody the same, regardless of their background, gender or beliefs. Not only do we respect differences, we also regard them as a source of innovation and of our success. Additionally, each and every employee is an ambassador of the company and shapes ALPLA’s image.

Health and safety

At ALPLA, we are committed to ensuring a safe and healthy working environment for all employees. Our decentralized Health and Safety Management System is built on the principles of the International Labor Organization’s Convention No. 155 and Recommendation No. 164, and is tailored to meet the legal requirements of each country in which we operate. 

We believe that health and safety are not just regulatory obligations, it is fundamental to our values and operational excellence. Workplace incidents not only affect individuals but also disrupt operations and increase costs. That is why we have set an ambitious goal: zero workplace accidents.

To achieve this, we continuously improve our already high safety standards and foster a culture of awareness and accountability. Our global HSE programme empowers employees to proactively identify and eliminate unsafe conditions and behaviors. We also extend this commitment to our partners, customers, and suppliers, encouraging shared responsibility across our value chain.

‘It’s down to each and every one of us to make ALPLA a safe place to work. Our global HSE programme is founded on boosting our employees’ safety awareness. We want to motivate them to identify and eliminate all unsafe conditions and conduct.’

 

Walter Ritzer, COO, ALPLA Group

Learning and development

With its Corporate People Development department, which is dedicated to development and growth, ALPLA clearly demonstrates its commitment to the structured and systematic further development of its employees irrespective of their rank or location by bringing the portfolio of employees and their potential into line with both current and future business requirements.

Our learning and training centre, the ALPLA Academy, facilitates the development of our employees’ personal and professional capabilities and skills. With our global internal network of trainers and experts, we pass on our existing expertise and knowledge and thereby sustainably embed it within the company.

‘Our aim is to create all the conditions needed for our existing ALPLA employees to realise their full potential for ALPLA’s success. Here, it is important to us that they are all familiar with the opportunities within the company and that we actively promote individual development.’

 

Andrea Becker, Head of Corporate People Development

Talent development & scholarships

ALPLA has been offering  apprentice training in various professions since 1960. The concept was first exported from Austria to Mexico and China in 2013, followed by a training programme in India (2020) and Poland (2021). In 2023, ALPLA launched a training programmes in South Africa and Romania.  In North America we startet a programme in 2024 and more will come in future.

Group of ALPLA employees at a production site in Mexico standing together in a manufacturing hall, highlighting teamwork, engagement, and a positive workplace culture.

In memory of Alwin Lehner, ALPLA also funds a scholarship for exceptionally talented and dedicated students from Austria and abroad. Applicants must demonstrate merit and be enrolled on a course of study relevant to ALPLA at an institution specified by ALPLA (university, university of applied sciences). In addition to the financial assistance, the scholarship also includes paid internships at ALPLA in Austria and abroad.

Scholarship details

Social engagement

ALPLA has been supporting the non-profit organisation NIDISI since the end of 2021. 

Chay Ya and NIDISI are working together to establish a waste separation and recycling center (WSRC) in Chandrapu, Nepal, to address socioeconomic and environmental issues while providing educational opportunities and waste management infrastructure. The planned WSRC will recover recyclable materials and convert biodegradable waste into fertilizer, while non-biodegradable waste will be sorted and further treated. The project focuses on setting up structural and technical facilities as well as raising awareness and promoting education about waste separation. The WSRC will function both as a waste management center and a training center.

Through partnerships like this, ALPLA connects people, innovation, and purpose, creating long-term value far beyond packaging.

ALPLA employees and partners standing behind compressed bales of collected plastic waste at a recycling site, supporting community engagement and responsible resource management.

Learn more: how we drive sustainable impact

Explore our sustainability reports and other publications to see how goals become measurable progress and industry leadership.