Charting the Beginnings of a Movement for Change

adaPETation.net is the first regenerative network within the plastics industry that seeks, promotes and powers the best solutions to the systemic issues surrounding plastics.

Born in 2021, from the humble vision of Manuel Matos Gil, who’s family-owned business The IMG Group, has been producing PET packaging in Europe and the Americas for three generations, adaPETation is part of a broader movement to steer the polymers industry towards a regenerative path.

Matos Gil, IMG Group President, which controls Evertis and Selenis - companies with operations in Portugal, USA, Canada, Mexico, Brazil and Italy - believes that PET, the most easily recyclable of plastics, should lead and transform the conversation about the role the material plays in addressing some of the existential challenges we face as a species.

Lying at the conjunction of the most critical problems faced by humanity: namely the climate crisis, human population growth and the strain this is placing on the earth’s finite resources, the destruction of the planet’s precious ecosystems and the rapid loss of the world’s biodiversity, plastic has a critical part to play in our ability to make sense of the Anthropocene epoch.

PET’s Place in the Anthropocene Epoch
The AdaPETation solutions network began life as just one element of one company’s search for a deeper understanding of the Anthropocene, the geological epoch dating from the commencement of significant human impact on Earth's geology and ecosystems, including anthropogenic climate change.

Attempts to better comprehend the positive and negative impacts of plastics in this relatively short period of our planet’s 3.8 billion year history, is one of the principle elements of the roadmap adopted by Evertis and Selenis, a path towards becoming a regenerative company that goes beyond sustainability with a realisation that a “do less harm” posture is no longer enough.

Evertis and Selenis’ regenerative roadmap started with the acknowledgment of the place of the companies and industry in greater systems, beyond the market, and its need to take a proactive stance if it is to help arrest humanity’s damaging impact on the planet and to accelerate the restoration of ecosystems.

“In other words, we seek to increase our socio-ecological handprint by restoring the health of the planet, individuals and communities,” says Matos Gil.

Placing life back at the center is key and in recognition of this, the adaPETation journey began with a simple search to understand some of the key principles articulated by leading figures from the regeneration and eco-restoration movement.

The work, talks and contributions of Laura Storm whose work focuses on the DNA of 21st century, life-affirming organisations, systems thinker Eduard Muller and biomimicry expert, Carolina Fernandez-Jansink have all been instrumental in shaping the adaPETation initiative alongside, Gregorio von Hildebrand, whose organisation DearWise.Earth focuses on putting life back at the center and incorporating the wisdom of indigenous cultures into modern decision-making.

While adaPETation has an important place in Evertis and Selenis' transition to becoming future fit, it has much broader ambitions to create a space where stakeholders and companies can collaborate, foster constructive dialogue and discourse and subsequently strengthen our collective ability to make sense of some of the pressing challenges we face together.

“We believe in a context where companies can no longer be isolated but must be as connected to the people and the planet as much as possible,” says Matos Gil. “A world where we collaborate with our stakeholders to develop solutions that are positive for the company and for the planet - one thing does not exclude the other. I am sure that the future of our company, and of all those who want to last, is to adopt regenerative strategies and always be the best ‘for’ the world, and not just the best ‘in’ the world.”

Towards a World Free of Waste
While it is in its infancy, the benefits of the adaPETation network are already being felt within those organisations that have joined the movement.

Shared solutions and innovations have helped adaPETation’s founding members to achieve significant savings that have had not just a positive impact on their bottom line but have also reduced the strain placed on the planet’s finite resources, reducing energy consumption, use of chemicals and increasing the degree of circularity within the industry.

“We have started to explore principles to apply to our processes and products, that stem from biomimicry. We are exploring the R&D of Nature and looking to apply it to our packaging, not only the final product but in the industrial process too. Understanding better how Nature behaves is one of our major goals, and mimicking its adaptation techniques is something our whole industry could learn from,” says Matos Gil.

How?
By fundamentally changing our current relationship with the planetary systems that support us and future generations. To do so we believe in the power of forging unusual alliances and bringing multi-stakeholders together.

Who?
Any organisation that wants to go beyond sustainability and create a regenerative multi-stakeholder network that fosters and speeds innovation, placing PET plastic at the service of humanity and the planet.





If you’re interested in finding out more about the movement or feel you have something to contribute to achieve this collective vision then please contact us by filling out the form below.