Altalene is validated by the ANLA to for its 100% national post-consumer plastic bags

At Altalene, a company of Grupo Plastilene, we reinforce our commitment to offer responsible packaging solutions in Colombia. Today we celebrate the validation of adherence by the ANLA that proves that our plastic shopping bags and pre-cut bags are made up of 100% national postconsumer plastic.

This validation has very important implications: these bags are exempt from the national plastic tax and are therefore not prohibited under the single use plastic ban enacted through Law 2232. For businesses and consumers alike this means having a product that follows active legislation and that directly supports a shift into a circular economy.

This approval by ANLA is the direct result of a journey that has been built step by step: we began with a LOOP label, from the ICIPC, then with ICONTEC’s certification for our Ciclolene resins and our Altalene bags. Today we added another official legal backing. With it Altalene today positions itself as one of the first companies in the country to receive this distinction, offering our clients with an additional proof to increase trust in every bag that is used.

Now, what does it mean for a bag to be made of 100% PCR (post consumer recycled) plastic. It means that it is made from materials that already fulfilled their first life cycle and that after a certified process of recovery and transformation to then return to the market as a high quality product. Even though there is still a notion that “recycled” means “less resistant”, our bags made out of recycled plastic meet the same technical standards as those made from virgin materials.

Those who purchase these products must easily recognize which bags are compliant with the legislation and which might be problematic. To do so they must know that:

• A bag exempt from the tax must state that it is certified under the Technical Law NTC 6632
• The bag must mention the name of the supplier (in our case Altalene)
• If they want to confirm, consumers can enter ANLAs website and see if the manufacturer is approved by them

This traceability is essential to avoid legal risks, since Law 2232 has severe sanctions for those caught selling bags that wrongfully claim to be 100% PCR, such as: fines, seizing of products, and even shutting down a business.

The scope of this certification applies to sizes and thickness as outlined in different ICONTEC and ICIPC public access documents to increase transparency. The validity of this approval is of three years, with annual evaluations to ensure the product is still following the requirements of the institute and the law.

Another key point is the difference when compared to requirements for biodegradable bags. Although these can be sold, they do pay a tax, whilst bags that are certified with national 100% PCR are exempt. This creates an important advantage for businesses that are seeking a competitive yet responsible advantage.

Looking beyond the legislation, environmental considerations are essential to consider. Each bag made with PCR represents materials that avoided the landfill, and that because of circular economy considerations, can become valuable again. This is the real advantage: proving that it is possible to transform waste into useful and trustworthy solutions.

At Altalene we will keep working alongside our clients to teach them about regulations and ensure they can have certified products that communicate with consumers in a transparent manner.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to us at sostenibilidad@plastilene.com