The company Alpha Charta d.o.o. whose main product is 100% biodegradable paper straws, on July 1, 2023, the implementation of the project "Implementation of innovative green technologies for the production of paper straws in Alpha Charta" began. The project achieved co-financing through the third call for submission of project proposals through the program "Innovations, research, education and competitiveness in Croatia", which is implemented through the Norwegian financial mechanism for the period from 2014 to 2021.
The program will contribute to the general objectives of the EEA and the Norwegian Financial Mechanism (EEA and Norwegian Funds) for the period from 2014 to 2021, i.e. the reduction of economic and social differences in the European Economic Area (EEA) and the strengthening of bilateral relations between the EFTA states. and the EEA state and the beneficiary state of the Norwegian Funds program.
The successful implementation of this project will enable the achievement of the following, impressive results: implemented innovative automated green production line for the production of flexible paper straws, increased competitiveness of the company through the application of green and environmentally friendly production technologies, increased production capacity by 100%, annual turnover growth of 312% by 2028, 3 jobs opened by 2025, increase in energy efficiency by 41%, annual reduction of energy consumption in the production of paper straws by 86 MWh and annual reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 25 tons of CO2. The implementation period of this project is scheduled from July 1, 2023. until 30.04.2024. The total value of the project is EUR 331,281.00, and the amount of support is EUR 185,205.00.
"This project investment represents a key step in achieving the company's long-term goals, with the help of which the company will transform from a small producer with limited production capacity to a high-tech, green, and sustainable producer. This also represents a great opportunity to expand business throughout Central and Western Europe", said Igor Mirić, CEO of Alpha Charta d.o.o. For the company to be able to meet the growing domestic demand and to be able to take a more significant step into the target markets, considering the current production capacity and technological equipment; investment in state-of-the-art production technology and production automation proves to be a key prerequisite for achieving the established goals.
How did Alpha Charta come about?
One of the most serious environmental problems shaping the modern world is plastic pollution. Its destructive presence has become particularly evident because a large part of plastic, after short-term use, unfortunately, ends up in the world's seas. According to UNEP (United Nations Environment Program) estimates, more than 80% of marine debris is plastic, creating serious environmental consequences.
This problem has become so significant that many countries and organizations around the world have recognized the need for urgent action. One of the key initiatives in the fight against plastic pollution took place in the European Union. From July 2021, strict measures banning single-use plastic products such as plates, cutlery, straws, balloon sticks, and cotton buds came into force.
These measures have created opportunities for companies to develop sustainable and environmentally friendly alternatives and replace banned products in the EU and other markets with environmentally friendly ones. The company Alpha Charta is one of those - it has developed and presented to the market a sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative to disposable plastic straws, its main product - 100% biodegradable paper straw.
It is an innovative company that was founded in 2021, whose strategy is primarily focused on sustainable development and increasing production capacity through innovative production technologies of the existing production plant and aims to become an efficient, sustainable, and green producer with lower production costs, high energy efficiency and low emission of greenhouse gases. Alpha Charta d.o.o. established the production of environmentally friendly paper straws in 2021, and the market immediately recognized the sustainability of the company and the positive value of the product. In January 2023, Charta doubled its production capacity by acquiring new production lines for the production of environmentally friendly paper straws for the HoReCa and Retail segment. Alpha Charta d.o.o. places a strong emphasis on sustainability as it has an environmentally friendly green product that must be manufactured following the highest standards of production of items that come into direct contact with food from sustainable materials and very sensitive to customer preferences for sustainable, green and environmentally friendly products. This is why Charta is a proud holder of the FSC®-COC (FSC-C172992) certificate and the HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point) standard for production following the high standards of production of items of general use that come into direct contact with food. The company has also implemented ISO 9001 certification for manufacturing, ISO 14001 certification for environmental management, and ISO 45001 certification for occupational health and safety management systems. All of the above confirms the company's strict commitment to good governance and sustainability.
