What happened at Interzero in March? Read a summary of our speeches, industry activities and education!

Below we summarise our industry activities and speeches that took place in March. Our experts are taking an active part in these to work together with businesses and local authorities to develop the best possible waste management models, and to promote our solutions for more optimal waste management.

Paweł Lesiak, Vice President of the Management Board at Interzero, participated in a panel discussion during the European Congress of Local Governments in Mikołajki, where he debated the future of the waste management system in Poland together with experts from various sectors. During the discussion, key issues were raised about the challenges and barriers facing municipalities in maintaining cleanliness and order, the changes needed and the need for cooperation between all stakeholders to create an effective, sustainable system.

- Cooperation between local authorities, recovery organisations and lawyers specialising in waste legislation is key to creating an effective waste management system.

- emphasises Paweł Lesiak, highlighting the diversity of perspectives and the importance of acting together.

On 11 March, the debate 'The technological perspective of the food and packaging industry in the face of the packaging revolution' took place in Łódź, organised by Janusz Olejnik of FoodFakty as part of the Pack4Future Forum. Przemysław Kuna, representing Interzero Poland, focused on the challenges of recyclability in the context of the PPWR regulation and the new ROP. Przemysław highlighted the very controversial assumptions of the environment ministry's project:

- The new ROP, now as proposed and presented, is a threat and I am full of concern.

He stressed that businesses have to take into account the differences in waste management infrastructure across the EU, which poses an additional challenge. He added that business faced not only the costs arising from new regulations, but also the investment needed to return materials to circulation.

In March, we also had the pleasure of exhibiting at the Franchise Fair, held at PGE Narodowe. At our stand, we presented a compact and effective solution for automating bail collection in the form of the Sielaff SiCompact ECO M bottle dispenser, an Oklin composter and a range of services that can help franchisees in the day-to-day running of their businesses in various industries.

Our stand attracted a lot of interest - we had the opportunity to have many inspiring conversations with representatives of franchise networks and people looking for modern, green solutions for their business.

- The structure of the retail and HORECA market in Poland is not only made up of large, centralised chains, but also a huge network of franchisees, who often run businesses in several different industries with varying degrees of environmental obligations. Our presence at a trade fair aimed at this group of operators is a signal that we have solutions for everyone. And this is how we want to be perceived in the market.

- emphasised Łukasz Czarnowski, Head of Digital Sales CCF at Interzero.

We encourage you to follow our profile to keep up to date with events where you can meet us!

Any marketer of packaging in a country must establish a authorised representative and obtain licence on packaging and/or selected products (batteries, accumulators, tyres). To educate introducers on their obligations under extended producer responsibility in individual countries, we are running a series of free webinars, from which entrepreneurs can find out whether they have an obligation, which waste streams need to be licensed and where they can get support. On 20 March, a free training course was held for introducers in Croatia and Slovenia, which can be viewed here.

You are cordially invited to the upcoming Interzero Webinars:

[ENG] Local obligations for Authorised Representative & EPR in Spain | 17 April 2025 | 10:00-11:00 | Free attendance

[ENG] The PPWR is coming - are you ready? | 29 April 2025 | 10:00-11:00 | Free participation

We encourage you to follow our calendar of eventsso that you do not miss out on upcoming training courses.

Read about the key educational activities we undertook in March.

We have published a report collecting our most interesting educational activities in 2024 - for children, young people, adults, professionals and... art lovers.

In the publication you will find, among other things, information on:

• EcoPak' programme of activities for schools and eco-educators;
• podcasts, reports and outreach of the Eco Without Cuts campaign;
• cooperation with culture and the third sector;
• campaign linking ecology and mental wellbeing - 'Recharge your batteries';
• electro adventure animation with PSZOK in tl.e

Download the report to find out how diverse, timely and engaging environmental education can be: https://interzero.pl/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2025/03/Publiczne-kampanie-ekologiczne-Interzero-2024.pdf

The ecological exhibition, of which Interzero is a partner, has once again gone on tour. Until 25 April, it can be visited in Wrocław in the unique space of the Wrocław Główny railway station.

The exhibition is aimed at children from the age of 5 and whole families. It shows that being eco isn't about making sacrifices, it's about making smart and cost-effective choices like segregating waste correctly, saving water and catching 'energy vampires' in the living room. Admission to the exhibition is free - please visit and follow our profile so you don't miss out on information about the next stops of the exhibition!

Another 200 EkoPak were distributed to schools in the Mazovia region. Thanks to our materials, pupils will produce biogas together and grow an edible plant themselves, or create magnets reminding them of the principles of not wasting food. They will also learn how food is prepared for cosmonauts and how we can make use of it. They will also solve the mystery of why we do not drown in fallen leaves and what can be created from bio-waste.

The penultimate day of March is a small celebration of our industry - Zero Waste Day. On this occasion, on Radio Four, Edyta Mantorska, head of the Environmental Education Team, talked about disposability. Is disposability at a premium these days?

We hope that this meeting with the listeners of the Polish Radio will be the beginning of a longer cooperation and the promotion of environmental education also through radio.

The guest of the April podcast 'Eco without the corners' was one of the greatest experts on aluminium recycling - Jacek Wodzislawski, president of the RECAL Foundation.

There was talk of education, music festivals and, of course, canning. What came out of it was probably the most rock'n'roll EBK episode to date.

EcoExperimentarium is an interactive educational exhibition in Wrocław that aims to promote ecological habits in everyday life. Located in the Session Hall of the Wrocław Central Railway Station at 105 Marszałka Józefa Piłsudskiego Street, the exhibition is available free of charge from 27 March to 25 April 2025.

The exhibition is designed on the floor plan of a flat, where visitors can learn practical ways to save energy, water and reduce waste in individual rooms. For example, in the living room, methods for efficient energy use are presented, in the bathroom - ways to minimise water consumption, and in the kitchen - cooking techniques in the spirit of zero waste.

The exhibition is mainly aimed at organised groups such as kindergarten and primary school students, but is also open to families, young people and senior citizens. Visits for classes and organised groups take place from Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 14:00, and for individual visitors on Saturdays and Sundays from 12:00 to 17:00.

The organiser of the EcoExperimentarium is the Mamy Projekt Foundation and one of the main partners of the exhibition is the company Interzero.

By visiting the EcoExperimentarium, participants have the opportunity to experience how small changes in everyday habits can contribute to climate and environmental protection. It is a great opportunity to learn in a practical way how to take care of the planet while simplifying your life.

The EcoExperimentarium is a project that has so far been visited by more than 60,000 people w 13 cities in PolandThe city of Warsaw, Gdynia, Krakow, Poznań and Bielsko-Biała, among others. Now it is time for Wrocław! Fantastic educators from Ekolandia.edu, who are passionate about sharing their ecological knowledge, await you at the exhibition.

You are cordially invited to visit the exhibition!

You are cordially invited to the Interzero webinar, which will take place 10 April 2025. The event will focus on the latest changes in environmental regulation and the ongoing work on Extended Producer Responsibility (ROP). This is an excellent opportunity to learn more about the upcoming changes and their impact on businesses and the environment.

In the first part of the webinar, hosted by Pawel Sosnowski, the Board's Plenipotentiary for Environmental Regulation, will focus on ROP-related work. According to the latest information, the Extended Producer Responsibility Act will be adopted as early as 2025. Its first measures will take effect as early as 2026, with subsequent measures entering in stages. During the webinar, our expert will discuss:

• Draft assumptions of the ROP Bill presented by the Ministry of Climate and Environment.
• Advantages and disadvantages of the proposed solutions.
• Industry positions to the Ministry's proposal.
• The prospect of further work on a new ROP model.

In the second part of the webinar, we will focus on changes to waste law and changes to BDO. This part will be hosted by Wojciech Przybycin, Environmental Expert. Will be presented:

• Changes to construction waste legislation effective from January 2025.
• New separate collection obligation for textile waste.
• Amendments to the Regulation on types and quantities of waste for which no waste records are required.
• BDO changes effective from January 2025.
• Significant changes regarding stamp duty.

To participate in the webinar, please complete the registration form available at.

Once you have registered, you will receive a confirmation and a link to the broadcast. You are welcome to join!

We are about to celebrate the 19th edition of WWF's Earth Hour, the world's largest grassroots environmental movement and a global event involving tens of millions of people and hundreds of cities every year. Poland will participate for the 18th time.

WWF campaign promotes environmental protection - encourages reflection and a review of habits, but also offers hope for a better tomorrow. The symbolic gesture of turning off the lights for 1 hour a year is an expression of concern for the future of our planet.

It is worth remembering that Earth Hour is more than a brief, fleeting moment when cities are plunged into darkness. It is an initiative and a movement that continues to inspire and mobilise people around the world, reminding us of our collective responsibility for the state of the planet and the real impact we can have on its future appearance.

As in previous years, this year also participate in Earth Hour. Our idea of a world without waste and our main objectives of preventing waste and conserving resources are in line with the slogans proclaimed by the initiators of the campaign. As leaders of sustainable development in Poland and throughout Europe, we feel a special responsibility for the fate of our planet. We strive every day to create awareness, educate and inspire action for a more sustainable future. We also encourage our employees, customers and business partners to do the same.

How to join Earth Hour? On Saturday 22 March at 8.30pm your local time, turn off the lights in your home, office or wherever you are. That's all there is to it and that's all there is to it.

This year's Earth Hour in Poland is dedicated to the need to protect biodiversity. In the opinion of WWF Poland, biodiversity is, next to climate change, one of the most important environmental issues.

As part of the Polish edition of Earth Hour signatures are also being collected on a petition to the Prime Minister of the Republic of Poland on the establishment of an EU Natural Resources Restoration Fund. In it, activists demand action on:

• healthy, sustainable ecosystems that provide protection from extreme weather events,
• ensuring people's health security (physical and mental),
• healthy and resilient agriculture,
• the development of ecotourism,
• creating sustainable jobs in areas where environmental degradation has occurred.

As reported by the initiators of Earth Hour, 2024 was the hottest year in the history of our planet and also ended the hottest decade ever measured. The temperature of the seas had never been so high, and gigantic fires, devastating storms and severe droughts caused enormous damage not only to humans, but also to nature. All these phenomena indicate that we are inevitably approaching so-called tipping points, beyond which we will no longer be able to save our planet and we will irretrievably lose unique ecosystems. Environmentalists therefore encourage us to take action now to ensure that we, the people of the Earth, are climate-secure for years to come.

The goal of Earth Hour 2025 is to Breaking last year's record of 1.5 million hours "donated" to the Earth by event participants. WWF encourages people to share their commitment to the planet by dedicating one hour to either play or act in support of the planet. The organisation presents a range of proposals for local and global activities and encourages you to join them right now on 22 March at 20.30 local time.

For a full list of activities and more information about the campaign, see on the Earth Hour website.

Earth Hour is an environmental campaign created by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)whose final takes place at the end of March each year. Its symbol is the lights going out - a simple gesture with which the initiators and participants show their concern for the state of the Earth's environment and climate and emphasise their commitment to nature conservation. The overarching goal of WWF Earth Hour is to care for the Earth by promoting sustainability and respect for nature and the planet's natural resources.

Earth Hour was held for the first time in 2007 in SydneyThe campaign was launched in 2008, when as many as 2.2 million people took part. In subsequent years, the action gained publicity and gradually spread to other countries of the world. Poland joined Earth Hour in 2008. - At that time, already 50 million people worldwide declared their participation in the event. A year later, already 700 cities from 78 countries declared their participation, and in 2010. Earth Hour was hailed as the biggest environmental action in the history of the world.

Over the past 19 editions, Earth Hour has enjoyed steadily increasing popularity - for one hour a year, the lights have been switched off not only at the Sydney Opera House, but also at the Eiffel Tower, the Colosseum, Buckingham Palace, the Golden Gate Bridge, St Mary's Church in Krakow and the Empire State Building.

As the name suggests, the Hour for only lasts an hour and the the associated reduction in energy consumption is significant. Action also has no impact on emissions related to energy production, which is one of the main causes of climate change.

It should be emphasised, however, that it is not just energy consumption that is at stake here - the festivities are symbolic, with cities plunged into darkness to reflect on climate change and the action we can take to slow it down. With a clear action that everyone can see, such as turning off the lights on a March evening, the action also has the potential to reach an increasingly new audience.

18 March is World Recycling Day, an opportunity to reflect on the benefits we derive from returning materials to circulation. For businesses, meanwhile, it is an ideal time to look at the environmental impact of the products and waste they produce and to take action to reduce resource waste.

According to the statutory definition, recycling is the recovery by which the waste is reprocessed into products, materials or substances used for the original purpose or other purposes[1]. Its aim is to minimise the use of primary raw materials in favour of reusing materials that have already been put into circulation.

[1] Act of 14 December 2012 on waste (Journal of Laws 2013, item 21)

As a result of Polish and EU regulations, it is now the responsibility of many businesses to send their waste for recycling.

• Introducers of packaged products, tyres, lubricants and electrical and electronic equipment have an obligation to ensure recycling of waste produced from the products and packaging they introduced.
• From 2025, PET beverage bottles up to 3 litres must contain min. 25% of recycled plastic. This will increase to 30% from 2030.
• Under the PPWR, by 31 December 2025. at least 65% of packaging waste must be recycled. After 5 years, this share will increase to 70%.
• All packaging placed on the EU market must be recyclable (i.e. they must be designed with recycling in mind and recycled on a large scale).
• From 2030, plastic packaging will have to contain a certain amount of recyclate (depending on the packaging material).

Pressure regarding the recyclability of products and packaging is not only put on businesses by regulations, but also by consumers. The European Consumer Packaging Perceptions study 2025 conducted by Pro Carton shows that recyclability of packaging is the most important attribute respondents pay attention to when making their daily choices.

On Recycling Day, we are particularly pleased that as many as 84% of those surveyed are aware of which types of packaging materials are recyclable and which are not necessarily. As many as 65% consumers taking part in the survey specifically identified recyclability, as well as resealability and the use of renewable raw materials, as among the key features of any packaging. Furthermore, as many as four out of ten consumers indicated that they had refrained from choosing a product from a particular brand because of various concerns about its environmental impact, and 54% of them put a product back on the shelf whose packaging was not recyclable!

It follows that placing an emphasis on the recyclability of packaging and products can give businesses a huge competitive advantage and build a favourable image of their company in the eyes of consumers. This is all the more important as it is in recycling that as many as 67% consumers see a remedy for climate change.

62% respondents indicated that they had increased the amount of waste they recycled in the last 12 months. We can therefore see that Consumers are making an effort to take stronger care of the environment. They also expect the same from businesses, or more specifically, from the manufacturers.

• 62% of those surveyed wish manufacturers would use more renewable materials.
• 52% Respondents would prefer manufacturers to produce only easily recyclable packaging.
• 38% consumers want clear segregation instructions on packaging.
• 37%, on the other hand, would see room to set up deposit systems for hard-to-recycle materials[1].

[1] Pro Carton, European Consumer Packaging Percertion Study 2025, https://issuu.com/procarton/docs/european_consumer_packaging_perceptions_study_2025.

As environmental consultants, we want to emphasise that placing an emphasis on recycling not only allows you to increase revenue, but also to reduce the company's waste management costs. More and more companies are recognising that effective waste management helps to reduce the frequency and cost of waste collection and helps to generate additional revenue from the sale of either raw materials or recycling documents (DPR, EDPR).

World Recycling Day is the perfect time to take action to better manage your company's waste. If you want to optimise your waste management processes and reduce your environmental impact, contact us - we will help you make changes that will increase the competitiveness and profitability of your business!

At Interzero, we support entrepreneurs in their efforts to turn back raw materials and close material cycles. We are well aware that this recycling is one of the pillars of GOZ, which is why we offer our customers, among other things:

• assumption of recovery and recycling obligations for packaging, tyres, batteries and accumulators, oils and lubricants, vehicles and WEEE. This not only benefits the environment, but also the company budget. see how much you will save by handing over your duty to us!
• implementation of public education campaigns, in which we show how to handle waste to maximise its chances of being recycled,
• modern industrial composterswhich accelerate the recycling of biowaste,
• unique Recycled-Resource plastics recycling processresulting in the production of high-quality regranulate in accordance with customer specifications.

The most important research work on plastics recycling technology takes place in the newly opened Interzero Plastics Innovations doo laboratory in the Lenart industrial zone in Maribor in Slovenia. Thanks to him we can supply our customers with the highest quality recycled plasticswhich can successfully replace virgin raw materials.

The past month was full of important events and initiatives at Interzero. As part of the educational campaign Eco-friendly without the frills we published the third part of the report 'In the traps of disposability', which analysed Poles' attitudes to reusable packaging. We also took an active part in Sustainable Industry Lab 2025, where we were particularly interested in the presentation of the Waste Platform 2.0, which makes it easier for businesses to meet their environmental obligations. Check out what's new at Interzero below!

February saw the end of the pilot edition of our flagship educational programme EcoPak. 100 classrooms from Warsaw and the surrounding area received boxes filled with materials to help teachers conduct interesting and engaging paper-related lessons. Pupils learnt how paper is produced, how often it accompanies us in everyday life, the importance of its proper segregation and whether it is possible to recycle it. At the same time, they exercised their manual skills and creativity. During the activities, they built a cardboard forest, carried out an investigation in their school about the use of paper, created posters, collages and many other beautiful works. Also this month, we completed the recruitment for the second edition of the EcoPak on bio-waste. This time up to 200 packs will be distributed to schools. We encourage you to follow our pages and social media profiles.

The past month has brought important findings on the future of reusable packaging. Our new report looks at how Poles perceive alternatives to single-use plastic, which under the SUP directive has had to have a reusable option since last July. This is the third instalment of the series 'In the traps of disposability', in which Interzero analyses the implications of the SUP (Single-Use Plastics) directive for everyday consumer decisions. This time, the experts focused on takeaway food habits and examined what characteristics Poles think the ideal reusable packaging should have. The entire report is available to download on the Eco Without Borders website.

Our experts shared their knowledge on technological solutions to support sustainability and how to manage waste effectively. Speakers included: Paweł Lesiak Vice President, Łukasz Czarnowski Digital Sales Cross Country Function Head and Robert Kowal Business Development Manager. Discussions included: digital challenges in waste management, the role of IT tools in ESG reporting, the importance of reliable data in ESG strategy - how its analysis helps reduce emissions and build transparency in companies' operations, growing consumer awareness - why education and innovative approaches to sustainability are so important for the future of business. You can read more about the speeches on our fanpage.

If you export your products to the Spanish market, you must comply with the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) requirements. The Spanish regulations cover both local companies and foreign entrepreneurs placing on the market: packaged products (domestic, commercial, industrial), electrical and electronic equipment (EEE), batteries, accumulators and appliances containing them. Companies outside Spain must appoint an authorised representative to handle the formalities on their behalf. With Interzero it's easy! Simply sign the contract and we will take over your EPR responsibilities. We will provide full support in the registration, reporting and ongoing implementation of your environmental obligations, regardless of the scale of your business.

The 2025 Environment Conference is getting closer! Already 3-4 June we are meeting at the Warszawianka Hotel near Serock to discuss together the most important legal changes in the field of environmental protection. This is an event not to miss if you want to keep up to date with SUP, ROP, PPWR and ESG regulations. There is a discount of -15% on the regular price during March, so it's the perfect time to register! Agenda for the event is almost ready. See you in June!

If you are a company based outside Slovenia or Croatia, but sell your products to end consumers in these markets, you are subject to a number of environmental obligations. For valuable information and to avoid potential penalties, we invite you to participate in our free webinar on Thursday 20 March.

Webinar Do you sell your products on the Slovenian or Croatian market? Get to know your EPR obligations
in English will be held on Thursday 20 March from 10:00.

Our speakers, both environmental consultants, Katariina Jerbić z Croatiaas well as Matej Marka from Slovenia, will present environmental obligations, focusing mainly on Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) in Slovenia and Croatia.

Join our session and learn about the following topics:

1. Environmental obligations in Slovenian and Croatian law - an introduction
2. Explanation of extended producer responsibility (EPR)
3. Mandatory waste streams in Slovenia and Croatia
4. Licensing obligations for e-commerce retailers and manufacturers
5. Who is required to have an authorised representative in Croatia and Slovenia
6. Reporting
7. Best practice and support for companies
8. Question and answer session

The complexity and volume of environmental responsibilities can be stressful if you do not have a reliable partner by your side. Therefore, we encourage you to take advantage of this free opportunity to expand your knowledge with our specialists.

Register today!

Airtight, lightweight and... a discount for using them? This is how Poles imagine the ideal reusable packaging, according to the latest Interzero report "Breakfast on the unstyrofoam".. This is the third and final part of the series "In the traps of disposability", which focused on consumer attitudes towards reusable packaging.

We wrote more about the report carried out as part of the Eco without corners campaign in the article The SUP Directive, or a half-whistle revolution and 'Waiting for bail' - what Poles know about the bail system... and what they don't know

In an era of growing environmental awareness, more and more companies and consumers are looking for ways to reduce single-use plastic. However, the reality is sometimes more complicated than it might seem. Published by In the pitfalls of disposability' (Part 3) prepared by Interzero sheds light on the key challenges in the transition to more sustainable packaging. In this report, we look at why, despite good intentions and increasing regulation, it is still difficult to completely eliminate single-use products, and what solutions can help combat excessive waste production.

Report "Breakfast on the unstyrofoam". is not just about numbers - it is, above all consumer voices, their opinions and real concerns. The data collected can be a valuable source of knowledge for HoReCa, e-commerce or packaging manufacturers who want to better align their products with market expectations.

Read all parts of the report!