ALBA Group plc & Co. KG

When ALBA first opened its doors in 1968, reusing old products and materials as a source of raw materials was considered a worthwhile but unrealistic ideal. From day one, ALBA saw waste as more than just a troublesome nuisance and was quick to invest in technologies for extracting and processing recyclable materials. Even in the very early seventies, we were starting to collect, sort and recycle glass, paper and cardboard in Berlin. We created the "Berlin model" - the type-specific separation of materials that's essential for high-quality recycling and now used throughout Germany.Powered by a business model that focuses on raw materials rather than waste, the ALBA Group's growth has continued unabated in recent years. With our ALBA and Interseroh brands and around 200 subsidiaries and associate companies, we're now active in Germany and the rest of Europe, as well as Asia and the USA. With almost 9,000 employees and a turnover of 3.2 billion euros in 2011, the ALBA Group is one of the world's leading recycling and environmental service providers and suppliers of raw materials. As a full-service provider, we cover the entire spectrum of environmental services, from consultation on waste management to packaging licensing in markets using the German "dual system", to the provision of dependable recycling solutions, state-of-the-art sorting technologies and innovative logistics and product development, and the delivery of raw materials worldwide. And because we don't rely on short-term capital market interests, we're able to plan ahead in the long term. Our thinking is market-based and geared towards our customers' requirements - without losing sight of environmental considerations or the needs of future generations.