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photo. Mateusz Woźniak, MuFo

Can waste be the subject of photography? MUFO x Interzero collaboration

We avoid them because we are not fond of seeing them. At the same time, we produce a lot of it every day. Even if we bury it very deep down, waste makes itself felt. Can waste be the subject of photography? How can we tell the story of dealing with waste in a clever, responsible and interesting way?

Interzero joins forces with the Museum of Photography in Krakow, to talk about the idea of the circular economy and its challenges. On this occasion, we will take photographs to test the potential of photography as a visual way of talking about contemporary world problems and raising awareness of environmental issues.

The recipients of our project will be invited to workshop and interpret, and the results of all meetings will be presented in a publication that can also be used as a tool by educators.

The publication will be available with the beginning of 2024 on the websites:

Homepage - Museum of Photography in Krakow (mufo.krakow.pl)

Interzero - Interzero Poland

Homepage - Eko Bez Kantów (ekobezkantow.pl)

Meetings and workshops will be led by:

Krzysztof Story - Reporter for 'Tygodnik Powszechny'. He writes about social issues and man's relationship with nature. Together with Wojciech Jagielski, he hosts the Jagielski Story podcast about international events. He prefers the beauty of nature to any other. He climbs, travels and collects photos of inscriptions on walls. Author of the book "From Here. 150 doors at one address". He also publishes photos and texts on www.krzysztofstory.pl

Dr. Rafał Siderski - Visual artist working mainly with photography. He completed his doctoral studies at the Institute of Creative Photography in Opava. He is part of the Albom.pl initiative dealing with digitisation and work on photographic archives. In 2019, he published the book "Leave Stay" which was awarded in the competition for Photographic Publication of the Year 2019. In September 2021, together with Małgorzata Lebda, he had a literary-visual-poetic adventure "Reading Water: The Vistula', from which material was published on an ongoing basis in Pismo Magazine. In August 2022, the material collected then was used to create the exhibition 'Flow(s)', which is a visual and literary interpretation of the relationship with the river during that adventure. In his spare time he is 'going somewhere' or being 'somewhere'. He has participated in numerous exhibitions in Poland (e.g. Białystok, Rybnik, Poznań, Warsaw, Gliwice) and abroad (e.g. Germany, Czech Republic, Belarus, Italy, Lithuania and Japan). His work has received a number of awards and prizes, and he has received a scholarship from the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage (Culture on the Web). Since 2023, assistant lecturer at the Faculty of Photography and Visual Communication Creation at the Jan Długosz University in Częstochowa.

Monika Krysztofińska - Cultural studies scholar, project manager with experience in the implementation of alternative education. Creator of educational programmes, workshops, lectures, exhibitions for children and adults. Initiator of projects focused on sustainable development in cultural institutions and private companies. Information collector on technology, digital ecology, psychology, communication, art.Member of the Environmental Education Team at Interzero. She works at the intersection of sectors.

We invite you to follow our collaboration and learn more about the details of the project:

Museum of Photography in Krakow - events (mufo.krakow.pl)

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Interzero Polska: My company | LinkedIn

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photo. Mirosław Żak, MuFo

Interzero winner of the German Sustainability Award 2024

Closed-loop economy leader recognised for its commitment to building a world without waste: Interzero wins the German Sustainability Award 2024.

In recognition of its comprehensive commitment and pioneering 'zero waste' solutions, Interzero will receive the German Sustainability Award 2024 in the category 'Waste Management and Recycling Industry'. It honours outstanding sustainability achievements in business, municipalities and research. The award has been presented annually since 2008 by the German Sustainability Award Foundation in cooperation with the German government, the German Sustainability Council, leading municipal associations, business associations, civil society organisations and research institutions.

"We are very proud of this award," - said Dr. Axel Schweitzer, CEO and owner of Interzero - "It encourages us to continue our circular transformation efforts with great determination and passion (...). Together with our customers and partners, we want to achieve a truly sustainable circular economy in order to more effectively counteract the excessive burden on our planet. Many thanks to our customers, partners and also to our team."

The award ceremony will take place on 23 November 2023 in Düsseldorf.

Read more HERE.

Transforming waste into valuable raw materials - OMV and Interzero will build Europe's largest chemical recycling sorting plant!

OMV, the Vienna-based energy, fuels and raw materials, chemicals and materials company, has announced an investment decision to build an innovative sorting plant developed by the Interzero* to produce raw materials for chemical recycling.

In total, OMV will invest a sum of more than €170 million in the construction of this state-of-the-art facility in Walldürn in southern Germany. OMV will own 89.9 per cent of the joint venture and Interzero will own 10.1 per cent.

Production at the new plant is expected to start in 2026, with around 120 new jobs created. A groundbreaking ceremony is already scheduled for 20 November 2023, with guests from the world of politics expected to attend.

The sorting plant will be the first of its kind to produce raw materials for OMV's chemical recycling on a large industrial scale. The ReOil® technology, developed and patented by OMV, is a chemical recycling innovation that converts plastic waste that cannot be mechanically recycled into ash oil - a valuable raw material. The input to the sorting plant essentially comprises a mix of plastics that were previously not recyclable, especially those collected separately from the yellow bag and yellow bin recycling system in Germany.

Interzero operates five light packaging sorting plants in Germany and sorts around a third of Germany's light packaging waste in the form of more than 800,000 tonnes per year. This means that the company currently has the largest sorting capacity in Europe and is a technology leader.

The collaboration between OMV and Interzero will ensure the supply of sustainable and high-quality raw materials for OMV's chemical recycling, helping to close the plastics cycle. The innovative, state-of-the-art sorting plant developed by Interzero will be capable of processing 260,000 tonnes of mixed plastic waste per year, providing the raw material for the production of virgin polyolefins. This innovative sorting process will enable the polyolefin-rich fraction to be recovered from the waste stream that currently goes to thermal recycling. In terms of the waste hierarchy, the focus is on plastic waste that is not mechanically recyclable. This will ensure that chemical recycling does not compete with mechanical recycling.

*Acting as ALBA Recycling at the sorting plant site

Read the press release in English HERE

Interzero at POLECO 2023

Read a summary of our presenceracing at POLECO 2023, which took place on 17-19 October at the MTP pavilions in Poznań. 

At this year's Fair, Interzero presented Sielaff-branded bottle machines, of which it is the exclusive distributor in Poland. In connection with the establishment of a deposit system for single- and multi-use beverage packaging in Poland, these devices can provide support in units subject to mandatory packaging collection. At POLECO, we presented two modelse bottle machine The SiCompact 2020 XL and Eco M series allow for the efficient and effective collection of returnable packaging and, thanks to their compact dimensions, are ideal for facilities of all sizes. There was a lot of interest in the equipment, both from commercial operators (retail chains, factories) and local authorities (municipalities), and even sports clubs. 

If you want to know more about the upcoming regulatory changes, check out our page dedicated to the bail system. The full range of Sielaff-branded bottle dispensers is available at our website: ekourzadzenia.interzero.pl/ 

In addition, our stand featured the innovative Oklin GG-02 device. This small composter, which fits into any office, was awarded the MTP Gold Medal. The award was received by Agata Ryś, Director of the Sales Department, and Paweł Lesiak, Vice-President of the Management Board of Interzero. We also presented the PEL BriteBin solar bins, which, thanks to the possibility of incorporating a Wi-Fi modem and customising the device's branding, can add variety to spaces in municipalities and cities. 

We thank you for your presence at our stand and invite you to view a photo report of the event. 

Join us in the packaging revolution. Create a bailing system with Interzero and PIOIRO

Interzero together with Polish Chamber of Packaging Recovery and Recycling invites all entrepreneurs covered by the provisions of the Act to jointly build a deposit system in Poland. We have extensive experience and know-how in the operation of deposit systems in EU countries (including a deposit system in Germany), the necessary knowledge and practice in the operation of the waste management system and ready-to-use IT solutions enabling efficient operation of the deposit system (including recording and reporting), as well as the ability to offer bottle vending machines with full service and maintenance.

A broad point of view that takes into account the needs of the producer, the distributor and the consumer allows us to ensure that statutory obligations are comprehensively met and to provide a solution to improve the separate collection of waste within the deposit system.

As part of the collaboration, Interzero will take over the key tasks of building and operating the deposit system, while PIOIRO will act as an organisation for packaging producers and waste management operators. This will enable us to focus on providing comprehensive solutions to meet new regulations and market expectations.

Discover the offer for beverage manufacturers, retail chains and representative entities. For more details, visit HERE and HERE.

What was the focus of this year's Interzero Environmental Conference?

Changes in business and the environment 

The market situation for environmental and related industries is dynamic and subject to regulation, including a number of directives. Existing regulatory developments particularly concern areas such as packaging reduction, waste prevention and the use of recyclates in packaging. Consequently, continuous education and expansion of knowledge in these areas are crucial for companies. Having up-to-date knowledge of legislation and other aspects related to ecology and sustainability is an indispensable part of business management, whether in the context of production, promotion or sales.

According to Monika Grom, vice-president of Interzero's management board, the need to be knowledgeable about innovative approaches to waste management and to share experiences with experts and stakeholders cannot be underestimated either. This is why Interzero emphasises the importance of giving practical guidance, providing sound knowledge and facilitating the necessary changes. The recently held Environmental Conference 2023 is an example of this. The deposit system presents a challenge to all those who put beverages into the packaging cycle, but at the same time offers an excellent opportunity to transform the way waste is managed and to use a closed-loop model. As the experts attending the conference emphasised, we are ready to implement a deposit system

Talk to entrepreneurs 

Take part in the training course - Deposit system - new obligations of entrepreneurs introducing beverages in packaging and running commercial units resulting from the amendment of the Act on packaging and packaging waste management

We would like to invite you to a webinar entitled. "Deposit system - new obligations of entrepreneurs introducing packaged beverages and running commercial units resulting from the amendment of the provisions of the Packaging and Packaging Waste Management Act", which will be held already 26 October 2023 year (Thursday).

The online training will be led by: Paweł Sosnowski, Board Representative for Environmental Regulation at Interzero.

Scope of the webinar:

1. Scope of traders subject to obligations arising from the establishment of a bail system,
2. Scope of packaging covered by the deposit system,
3. Collection rates for packaging waste and packaging,
4. Labelling of deposit packaging,
5. Deposit amount,
6. Minimum requirements for bail systems to be set up,
7. Representative entity - the entity responsible for setting up the bail system. Requirements for the creation of a representative entity and the scope of its activities,
8. Authorisation to set up a bail system,
9. Commercial unit operators - the requirement to join a bailment scheme and the obligations arising therefrom,
10. Records and reporting,
11. Product charge.

You can find the detailed scope of topics and the registration page under the link HERE

Registration for the webinar runs until: 26 October 2023 at 8:00 am.

You are welcome!

"Action fraction, or the puzzle of a very round idea" - report from our workshop at the Royal Baths

What does pre-compost smell like and what does regranulate smell like? Where do I dispose of a spice packet, medicine or a broken iron? How do you fix a lid? What does the seedling symbol on the packaging mean? Answers to these and many other questions were sought during our workshop.

During our workshop, parents and children together solved 12 puzzles revolving around the idea of the circular world. Together, they moved between specially prepared stations with individual tasks, matched different elements, practised careful observation and verified their knowledge of selective collection. In the end, we joined forces to discover together the story of the circular economy. We found out that rubbish is not unnecessary waste, but important, often strategic raw materials that should circulate through the system and be reused again and again to create new items.

Each participant in the workshop "Action fraction, or the puzzle of a very round idea" received a gift - our original educational game.

The workshop was conducted as part of the Re:generation, supporting the restoration of the Royal Baths ecosystem and implemented by UNEP/GRID Warsaw and Interzero Packaging Recovery Organisation. This is one of the public education campaigns, financed with funds donated by the company's customers to build environmental awareness in society. We encourage you to find out about other activities of the Environmental Education Team, such as Eco-friendly without the frills, EcoPakwhether Turning point.

Would you like to find out more? Contact us at edukacja@interzero.pl

Sustainable office space? It's possible with the Office Zero Waste service!

Are you a commercial property manager or owner? Are you an Environmental Specialist, Green Officer or Sustainable Manager and want to make a change in the office that benefits the working environment and the environment?

You should get to know our Zero Waste Office service!

What does it consist of?

Office Zero Waste provides comprehensive support to help you create a green and environmentally friendly workplace. Our offer includes an audit, during which we will carefully analyse the functioning and structure of your office. We will also review your internal documentation and provide you with a concrete report containing recommendations and ready-to-use solutions to help you move towards a more sustainable future. In addition, we offer education and communication activities aimed at your employees, as well as access to consultations with our experts to support you at every stage of the process.

When you choose the Zero Waste Office service, you will receive comprehensive support in green transformation and in achieving your environmental goals. We will tailor the scope of activities to your expectations, the specifics of your work and the size of your company.

Details of the offer can be found at the link: https://biurozerowaste.pl/

Photo: Mikolaj Tym

New initiative by Interzero and Mom's Project - education centre A turning point in fashion and the fight against greenwashing

We live fast, produce fast, consume fast. Fast fashion (fast fashion) conquers hearts and achieves high profits without regard for social and environmental consequences. Every year, 92 million tonnes of textile waste ends up in landfills and only 1% is recycled. At the same time, for young people, appearance and fashion are a means of self-expression, of building identity. How do we find our way in a world where manufacturers often pull the wool over our eyes with ecological slogans and countless marketing techniques bombard us with their messages? The Turning Point EcoCentre comes to the rescue - the place where change begins.

About fast fashion at FSO

The theme of Turning Point is the environmental impact of fast fashion and packaging. The themes and delivery of the innovative educational activities were tailored to the interests of teenagers. Through an engaging narrative, teaching through discovery and solving puzzles, teenagers gain practical knowledge of ecology.

- The opening of an environmental education centre in the former FSO car factory is a symbol of the green transformation taking place around us. As the Interzero Group, we focus our pro-environmental activities primarily on reducing the waste of natural resources, closing raw material cycles and managing waste. Our ambition in relation to environmental education is to talk about the challenges of civilisation in an accessible, engaging and interest-inspiring way. Turning Point, of which we are a patron and partner, is an example of this. I am very pleased that we were able to get involved in this initiative," says Monika Grom, vice-president of the Interzero Group in Poland.

Riddle rooms

There are four thematic rooms at the Turning Point. One of them has been developed substantively by Interzero experts. Upon entering it, visitors receive a message from the future and a task related to waste sorting. The main purpose of this part of the story is to explain the impact of correct waste sorting on recycling and closing the cycle of packaging and raw materials.

- At Turning Point, we are creating a fashion for ecology. We do this through activating teaching methods that have proven successful in previous projects with the Mamy Projekt, such as the Eco-experimentarium exhibition and online games. This time, we are venturing into the not-so-distant future, showing today the reasons why textiles will be included in the selective waste collection system from 2025. We want to educate through experience and thus change behaviour, stimulating reflection and responsible attitudes, which is why the slogan of the Turning Point is 'You are the change'," says Katarzyna Kacz, manager of educational projects for children and young people at the Interzero Group.

In each of the four thematic rooms of the Turning Point, groups of students seek answers to questions related to the environmental consequences of the garment industry's actions. After completing all tasks, they meet with an animator in a special dialogue zone, where they discuss the conclusions of this fashion and packaging journey.

- Reports trumpet the fact that young people have heard about climate change but don't have enough knowledge or tools to understand its consequences, so they often take a passive attitude towards it. "If I'm going to die anyway, let it be in fashionable shoes," one teenager told us during interviews. This was the impetus for creating an alternative form of environmental education. Games, collaboration, good graphics, multimedia and expert knowledge conveyed in an interactive form are the ingredients of the recipe for Turning Point. We have been designing innovative tools for environmental education for 10 years, and creating an interactive EcoCentre was Mama Projekt's biggest dream. Come and see for yourself how it turned out," invites Małgosia Żmijska of the Mamy Projekt collective.

The EcoCentre Turning Point is located at 88 Jagiellońska Street, in the former FSO gate (now FSO Park). Registration for the free workshops is conducted via the website www.punktzwrotny.com. It will host less waste workshops, inspirational meetings and clothes swaps at weekends. It is also possible to rent the space of the EcoCentre.

It's time for the Turning Point! 🚀🌱 You're welcome!