User:Inceptio/Sphère (company)

Sphere is an independent French group that develops, manufactures and markets household packaging: rubbish bags, fruit and vegetable bags, reusables bags, freezer bags, plastics films, paper for food contact, etc.

Through its subsidiary Biotec, it also produces biologically-based and compostable resin used in the manufacture of packaging.

History
In 1976, John Persenda (born 28 May 1939 in Monaco) founded SP Métal a company, specialised in household aluminium trading. He also created private labels for the rubbish bag sector and developed rubbish bags with drawstrings.

In 1982, the group bought PTL factory, which enabled the company to become a producer of bags. Since then, the SPHERE group has developed through a combination of sustained internal growth of its original business, as well as through external growth driven by the completion of twenty acquisitions in France and Europe: ACP (United Kingdom) 1990, Jet'Sac - Wavin Alpha (France) in 1996, Biel (Spain) in 1999 , Schweitzer (France) in 2000 , J&M Plast (France) 2003 , Comset – ICO (Italy) en 2004, Branche Household wraps Chilwood (Great Britain) en2004, Biotec (Germany) en 2005 , AEF en 2017 , Flexopack (Italy) en 2019.

In 2005, SP Métal merged with Sphere and started its engagement in bioplastics by acquiring BIOTEC, and by becoming the main shareholder of the Haussimont starch factory in 2007.

In 2011, Sphere has launched Vegetal Origin – rubbish bags made from vegetable polyethylene, which is derived from sugar cane.

In 2017, SPHERE acquired the AEF Group, which included several distribution companies and two production sites specialising in paper manufacturing.

In 2020, during the Covid19 pandemic in France, the SPHERE group reorganised part of its production facilities in order to supply French hospitals with medical uniform and protective clothing. The group mobilised four of its French production sites, as well as its Dutch production site to respond to the emergency.

Over the last couple of years, the Sphere Group has also been working on the development of a new material that can biodegrade in marine environments.

Activities, key figures and dates
In 2019, Sphere's sales reached 580 million euros.

The group is Europe's leading manufacturer of household packaging and the producer of biosourced and compostable raw materials - Bioplast. It currently operates in three markets: consumer, business and regional authorities.

Each year, Sphere produces 150,000 tonnes of foil and rubbish bags.

In 2019, the group employed around 1,450 people, including about 1,000 in France.

Establishment of the group
The Sphere group has grown notably through acquisitions in France and Europe. It has eight factories in France and seven in other parts of Europe (i.e. Germany, Netherlands, Spain, Italy, United Kingdom).

Six out of the group's eight French production sites have been certified "Origine France Garantie", since January 2013. They account for 70% of the group's business volume. Five companies purchased in Czech Republic, Germany, Italy, United Kingdom and Denmark, have been relocated to France.

The Sphere group is committed to maintaining its production in France and hence participates in the "Assises du produire en France" in Reims.

Brands
Sphere has developed four national brands: Alfapac in France, Frio in Italy, Vita in Denmark and Propsac in Benelux. In France, a part of Alfapac product lines obtained the label Origine France Garantie in 2013.

Bio-plastics
Since 2005, the SPHERE group has been engaged in the production of materials made of compostable bioplastics. Compostable bioplastics are materials that are partially or fully biosourced and/or biodegradable.

Since 2011, the company has also been manufacturing 100% recyclable and vegetable-based rubbish bags made from sugar cane.

Since 2016, SPHERE has been producing bio-sourced and compostable bags Végéos for fruits and vegetables.

Recently, the group acquired the German company Biotec and is currently working on the development of new biopolymers that biodegrade in a marine environment.

Liens connexes

 * Biodegradation
 * Bioproducts
 * Plastic recycling
 * Green chemistry