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!