News

Interzero #1 in the packaging recovery market!

Once again, Interzero Organizacja Odzysku Opakowań S. A. is the leader among packaging recovery organisations. According to data from the IOŚ-PIB report (2023) "Packaging and packaging waste management in Poland in 2021", Interzero in 2021 showed a total of 2 million tonnes (2 092.01 thousand Mg) of packaging, which is 31% total package turnover for that year.

In addition, Interzero achieved the highest shares for packaging with aluminium (39.67%), glass (38.54%), wood (31.89%) and metal (28.18%)and the second highest score for packaging with plastics (28.27%) and paper and cardboard (29.56%).

This unparalleled success is an expression of the enormous trust that our customers, contractors, colleagues and partners have placed in us over the years, and the result of our many years of experience, supported by the hard work of the entire Interzero team.

Thank you for being with us!

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Data for 2021 in a nutshell:
📍 Nearly 10 million tonnes (9 917.57 thousand Mg) of single-use and reusable packaging were produced in Poland by 1872 packaging introducers.
📍 The share of single-use packaging was 85%, with single-use paper and cardboard packaging alone accounting for more than half of all packaging produced - (4,537.53 thousand Mg).
📍23 Packaging recovery organisations have taken over the obligations from introducers to achieve the required recycling rates for waste
packaging and showed a total of 6.7 million tonnes (6,704.62 thousand Mg) of packaging.
- 2.2 million tonnes (2,214.82 thousand Mg) of paper and cardboard packaging,
- nearly 1.6 million tonnes (1 595.42 thousand Mg) of wood packaging,
- 1.4 million tonnes (1 426.63 thousand Mg) of glass packaging,
- 1.1 million tonnes (1 166.23 thousand Mg) - plastic packaging,
- nearly 0.2 million tonnes (197.80 thousand Mg) of metal packaging and 0.1 million tonnes (103.92 thousand Mg) of aluminium packaging.
📍 11 Economic Organisations represented entrepreneurs introducing either products in multi-material packaging or hazardous products in packaging, including plant protection products.
📍 6.4 million tonnes (6,390.18 thousand Mg) of packaging waste was recycled, of which 19% share was household waste.
📍 56% the total recycling rate for packaging waste has been achieved by Recovery Organisations.
📍Recovery processes were carried out nationally:
- 0.5 million tonnes (525,48 thousand Mg) of plastic packaging waste,
- 1.2 million tonnes (1,228.40 thousand Mg) of paper and cardboard,
- nearly 0.9 million tonnes (858,27 thousand Mg) of glass packaging waste,
- 0.2 million tonnes (245,03 thousand Mg) of wood packaging waste,
- 88.24 thousand Mg metal packaging waste and 0.19 thousand Mg. aluminium.
📍1.1 million tonnes (1,142.58 thousand Mg) of packaging waste were recovered outside the country.
📍32,895 businesses independently fulfilled the recycling levels obligations, of which 22,244 did not benefit from de minimis aid.
📍More than PLN 13.2 million (PLN 13 223.48 thousand) was spent on public education campaigns.

Source: IOŚ-PIB | PACKAGING AND PACKAGING WASTE MANAGEMENT IN POLAND IN 2021. 

The entire report is available HERE.

Ticket sales for the Interzero 2024 Environmental Conference have started!

We live in a time where change is the order of the day. Trends that were top of mind yesterday are becoming the standard today, and these standards may give way to new innovations or changes in the law tomorrow.

We are all witnessing economic changes to which we must adapt, but one thing is certain. In order to operate effectively in the market, in line with constantly updated regulations and at the same time meet the expectations of customers, it is necessary not only to monitor current trends and changes, but also to implement them.

That is why every year we organise Interzero Environmental Conference - to meet as a wider group and discuss what the future holds for the environmental industry and how we can prepare for it.

Interzero 2024 Environmental Conference - Where and what about?

This year we will meet for the first time in Sopot, at the Sheraton Hotel. The event will take place on 18-20 September 2024. The motto of this year's edition is Pillars of Circularity. We will focus on environmental, social and corporate governance issues, but not only. We will also talk about key legal developments: SUP Directive, PPWR, deposit system, ROP.

You are cordially invited to take a look at the Environmental Conference website: HERE.

See a summary of last year's Environmental Conference HERE

We will publish more details soon!

Zbigniew Skowronek new Board Agent at Interzero

We would like to inform you that as of January this year. Zbigniew Skowronek has taken on a new role as Plenipotentiary of the Interzero Management Board.

In his new role, he will be primarily responsible for the development of the service Made4Loop, closed-loop solutions for reusable food and beverage packaging, and building relationships with key customers in the HoReCa industry.

Zbigniew Skowronek is an experienced business development specialist in the waste industry, which he has been involved with for 15 years. Currently, as a board representative of Interzero, he is responsible for creating and implementing the sales strategy for new products, managing the team and building relationships with key customers. Currently, his main focus is on solutions, responding to SUP obligations. He is a graduate of the Cracow University of Economics, AGH University of Science and Technology and Central Connecticut State University, where he obtained an MBA. Read more HERE

For more information about the Made4Loop service, read HERE and HERE

Jan Pyśkiewicz is the new Director of the Recycling Department at Interzero

We would like to inform you that as of 2 January 2024, the director of Interzero's recycling division becomes Jan Pyśkiewicz. A long-standing expert on packaging and waste management, who served for many years as chief specialist at the Marshal's Office of the Mazowieckie Voivodeship.

The new director will head the entire Recycling Department, where he will actively support the Company and clients on a wide range of waste management issues.

The extensive competencies of our new Recycling Director will certainly strengthen our position in the area of recycling and circular solutions. Jan Pyśkiewicz's responsibilities at Interzero will include monitoring the recycling market and building long-term customer relationships.

Working with Interzero will allow me not only to look at the existing system from a completely new perspective, but also to take an active part in shaping it and implementing changes that benefit both businesses and the environment. In my new position, I will be leading a team responsible for strengthening cooperation with waste management entities. At present, the market is changing dynamically, which is why close contact and cooperation between recovery organisations and waste management companies is becoming crucial. - said Jan Pyskiewicz.

You can read more about our expert HERE

A peaceful and joyful Christmas from Interzero

On the occasion of the upcoming Christmas holidays, we would like to thank all our Partners and Friends for their trust and cooperation over the past year.

We wish you much joy and smiles, with your loved ones, and peace in your heart. And in the coming New Year, fulfil your dreams and be successful in your private and professional lives.

At the same time, we encourage you to organise Christmas in #zerowaste style, i.e. waste-free.

As a reminder, you can use our free guide "Sustainable Christmas" HERE.

Noble Parcel 2023 at Interzero!

Spirit Christmas has arrived at Interzero - we have once again taken part in the Noble Parcel campaign.

Last weekend was the finale of the Noble Parcel. During the 'week of miracles', volunteers from all over Poland got involved in preparing gifts for families and people in need.

Once again, Interzero took part in the charity collection. This year, financial and material support went to a family from Łódź. The majority of our employees took part in the collection of gifts, which makes us extremely happy. We sincerely hope that this year's Christmas will bring them joy and peace of mind.

Although this year's edition of the Noble Parcel has already ended, we strongly encourage you to support the campaign with your donations through the website - This will allow even more families to be helped in the following year.

We would like to thank the employees of Interzero for their participation in the campaign, especially the coordinators of this year's campaign: Aleksandra Mikiel, Anita Janiec, Alicja Breś and Agnieszka Żuk for their involvement in organising the collection and delivering the parcels.

Sielaff bottle machine from Interzero in the Delikatesy Centrum shop chain!

More and more countries in Europe are opting to introduce a deposit system, and in Poland, deposit collection of beverage packaging is set to take effect as early as 2025.

As a result, many retail chains are opting for automated beverage packaging collection. One company that has benefited of our assistance in this respect, is Eurocash Group. Thanks to our collaboration, on 1 February 2023 we launched the first Sielaff SiCompact XL bottle dispenser in the Delikatesy Centrum chain. The device, of which we are the distributor in Poland, can be seen live in a shop in Warsaw's Bemowo district.

As Paweł Lesiak, Vice President of the Management Board of Interzero, comments - "Introducing and popularising the automatic deposit system in Poland is part of our mission. We want to develop solutions that support the closed loop economy and bring our country closer to the European level in this respect."

Thanks to a thorough market analysis, we are able to offer our customers tailor-made solutions. We ensure convenience and intuitive use for consumers and guarantee regular technical reviews and support from our consultants.

If you are interested in implementing such a solution in your retail network, please do not hesitate to contact us!

You can read more about our collaboration in the press release: HERE

Participate in the training course PACKAGING IN ACTION: Reporting, classification and reporting to the organisation

You are cordially invited to a webinar entitled. "PACKAGING IN ACTION: Reporting, Classification and Reporting to Organisations", which will already take place on 15 January 2024 (Monday).

The online training will be led by: Jan Pyśkiewicz, Expert on packaging and waste management

Scope of the webinar:

1. What is the marketing of products
2. Who is the introducer and what are his/her responsibilities
3. Categories, types and classification of packaging
4. Implementation of obligations through packaging recovery organisations
5. Obligation to conduct public education campaigns
6. Reporting of quantitative data to the organisation

More details and the registration page can be found at HERE

Registration for the webinar runs until: 15 January 2024 at 8:00 am.

You are welcome!

Summary of the Zero Waste 2023 Fair

Zero Waste Fair is an annual event that attracts enthusiasts of ecology and sustainable living. It is a unique event where we can meet truly committed creatives, participate in workshops that facilitate the transition to an ecological path and take part in the collection of objects that we no longer need but can find a new life in the hands of others.

This year we met on 2 December. It's time to take stock of our participation in the fair!

At the Interzero stand you could:

• Replace electro-waste with plants,
• Take part in a flow workshop to rescue stranded socks,
• Exchange items at the Unwanted Gifts Shelf,
• Create jewellery from electro-waste,
• Visit the bookshop section of the stand and learn about many items related to climate or environmental issues.

Thank you for visiting our stand in such large numbers!

Thanks to your commitment, we managed to collect as much as 1,341 kg of electro-waste, which we exchanged for plants.

In addition to this, we were able to create a number of sock Christmas gnomes, interesting and one-of-a-kind jewellery made from electro-gear, and the misplaced gifts rack proved to be the perfect solution for the unwanted gadgets we so often receive from other people!

We encourage you to view the photo report of the event. We hope to see you next year!

Photo: Mariusz Szachowski

The future of retail chains and bottle machines - Interzero at Carrefour Fair

Carrefour Poland 2023 took place on 29-30, an event for the chain's suppliers and franchise partners.

We were present there with our Bottle machines Sielaffand more specifically with the SiCompact XL and Eco M models. We have had numerous discussions, not only about our equipment, but above all about preparations for the bail system and current legal developments.

A deposit system covering single-use plastic bottles up to 3 litres, reusable glass bottles up to 1.5 litres and metal cans up to 1 litre is to operate in Poland from 2025. Businesses marketing packaged beverages and distributors of packaged beverages that will be subject to a deposit have little time to adapt to the new regulations and prepare to take on their new statutory obligations.

Producers of packaged drinks covered by the deposit scheme will be required to achieve a high statutory level of separate collection of packaging and packaging waste. They will have to collect 77% of them in 2025 and as much as 90% in 2029. In addition to this, they will be obliged to keep detailed records of packaging and place special labelling on packaging subject to a deposit.

For retail chains, the key responsibilities will be to enter into a contract with at least one representative, collect and return deposits, collect empty packaging, account for costs, record packaging and inform consumers.

Waste logistics will be facilitated by bottle dispensers or by organising an efficient sack system. A sack system enables different types of waste to be separated efficiently and economically at the collection stage. Bottle dispensers, on the other hand, revolutionise the collection of single-use bottles. These automatic devices allow users to conveniently and immediately return their bottles at the point of purchase.

You can benefit from Interzero's expert assistance in preparing for the bail system. More information HERE and HERE.