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Eco-friendly retail space in Janki Shopping Centre

Taking care of green urban spaces is important for a number of reasons. Firstly, such places attract huge numbers of people every day, which means that even small changes can have a big impact on the environment. Implementing modern solutions in a shopping centre, for example, can improve the level of waste segregation, increase the environmental awareness of visitors to the place, or save and reduce the costs of operating the building and its surroundings.

Education of the public plays a key role in promoting green practices. Shopping centres are an excellent place to communicate environmental awareness and the benefits of a green lifestyle. Through information campaigns, educational events or practical examples, people can be effectively made aware and visitors can be encouraged to make more informed consumer decisions.

ESG, or Environmental, Social, and Governance, is not just about declarations on social and environmental responsibility, but finally concrete and measurable actions. Increased pro-environmental measures can be seen in various sectors of the economy, including larger retailers such as Janki Shopping Centre.

The facility incorporates a range of solutions and investments that ultimately contribute to reducing the carbon footprint, saving resources and educating the public.

The commercial space has been designed in the spirit of #zerowaste - various eco-equipment can be used in the building, such as bicycle-loaders or solutions provided by Interzero - bottle machine, self-segregating bin i solar basket. The centre authorities also took care of the green areas around the building - insect houses and composters were used to preserve the biosystem.

As Interzero, we very much welcome initiatives that have a positive impact on the planet. We hope that other facilities of this kind in our country will also work on ecological retail space.

You can read more about the sustainable solutions used in Janki Shopping Centre in the article at the link: HERE

Check which eco-equipment can be useful in your commercial space!

New Interzero report "Between plus and minus"

On the occasion of Battery Day, we are publishing a research report as part of the Eco Without Cuts campaign "Between plus and minus - what do Poles know about batteries and how do they deal with their segregation?". The results are surprising. Despite being aware of the obligation to separate waste collection, many of us still fail to comply. Poles perceive batteries as harmful both during production and during storage. They also considered recycling to be dangerous to the environment. Despite many fears about batteries, we do not give much thought to the power source in our devices. 

Never before in history have we produced and consumed so many batteries. According to forecasts by McKinsey & Company, their market will grow at 25% per year and, in the case of lithium-ion cells, could reach 30% of annual growth by 2030. This demand is being driven by the development of portable digital technologies, energy banks or electromobility, among other things. With this rapid progress of the battery industry, the question arises about the future of managing this new waste.  

In our latest study entitled "Between plus and minus" We asked about Poles' habits regarding separate collection of waste, including hazardous waste. We also wanted to know their motivations and beliefs regarding battery recycling. The fact that a significant proportion of the respondents know how to handle used batteries correctly in their declarations is a positive sign. However, serious doubts arise when it comes to more specific questions. The lack of knowledge regarding the benefits of recycling batteries and concerns about the harmfulness of this process are particularly noteworthy. The fragility of supply chains and the limited deposits of raw materials in the European Union mean that we should treat used batteries and accumulators as a strategic resource. In fact, the lithium, nickel, manganese and graphite present in the cells are of critical importance. Obtaining these elements, regardless of the source, is expensive and risky, and substituting them in technologies at this stage of development seems simply impossible. The importance of recycling in this context is therefore both a measure to protect the environment and to ensure the security of Europe's raw materials. 

What is also surprising in the "Between plus and minus" report is the group of young adults who were found to be less inclined towards ecological behaviour than older adults. Respondents under the age of 35 are not only less likely to separate waste, but are also more likely to doubt the sense of recycling. It is the responses of this group that should particularly stimulate reflection on the effectiveness of educational and legislative measures to date. 

You can find out more from the press release HERE.

How do we perceive ... waste? A few words about the project "Closed circuit. Waste in photography".

Waste is substances or objects that people dispose of because they consider them unnecessary, used or hazardous. It can be, for example, food scraps, packaging, used batteries, chemicals or used electronic equipment. The emotions that they arouse in people can be varied and depend on many factors, such as environmental awareness, level of education or culture.

Today we are talking about the inevitable need for transformation and the impact of human activity in the areas of energy, agriculture, production, consumption and waste management. Each of these topics is pressing and our time is becoming increasingly limited.

As environmental educators, we face major challenges. We must not only impart knowledge, but also affect the emotions of our audience. This requires reflection, understanding and taking care of the participants in the educational process. Our work must be effective. Building public awareness is a process in which it is worth experimenting and involving different groups of people and a variety of topics.

As Interzero, representing the business sector, we decided to carry out a project with Museum of Photography in Krakow "Closed Circuit. Waste in Photography". The project envisaged a series of meetings that would result in photographs and texts freely referring to the theme of waste.

We would like to thank Maria Masternak and Anna Sidorska from the Museum of Photography in Krakow, workshop leaders Rafał Siderski and Krzysztof Story, all participants and our Project Manager Monika Krysztofińska.

We are very impressed with the results of this project. We are pleased that the subject of waste, is not only important to us, but also to the wider community, who believe that by acting together, much good can be achieved.

More information about the project can be found in a publication on Eco Without Borders: HERE

Fot. Mateusz Woźniak, Magdalena Niezabitowska Krogulec, Tomasz Orłowski, Marta Wróblewska

Take part in the Made4Loop training - mugs and boxes that stay in circulation! Interzero's response to the obligations imposed by the SUP directive

We would like to invite you to a webinar entitled "The world's most important events". "Made4Loop - cups and boxes that stay in circulation! Interzero's response to the obligations imposed by the SUP directive"which will already take place 22 February 2024 (Thursday).

The online training will be led by: Zbigniew Skowronek, Board Agent for New Solutions at the Interzero

Scope of the webinar:

1. New obligations for businesses under the SUP Directive,
2. Consumer charge for cups and boxes,
3. Obligation to provide alternatives to single-use packaging from 1 July 2024,
4. What is looping? Definition, target groups,
5. Made4Loop

More details and the registration page can be found at HERE

Registration for the webinar runs until: 22 February 2024 at 8:00 am.

You are welcome!

Interzero among the winners of Forbes Monthly Diamonds 2024!

We are pleased to announce that the ranking of Forbes Diamonds 2024: revenues from PLN 5 to 50 million The company of the Interzero Group in Poland - Interzero Advisory sp. z o. o. - was ranked 77th in the Mazowieckie Voivodship and 311th on the national list!

Forbes' Diamonds is one of the leading rankings among private companies operating in Poland, which aims to identify the most dynamic companies in a given region that have achieved the highest average annual growth in value. The ranking is based on the Swiss method of company valuation, which takes into account, among other things, financial results or asset values.

We would like to thank you for this prestigious award; it is proof of our continued growth and the result of the hard work of our employees, as well as an important indicator of our strengthening position in the market.

The full summary is available at the project's official website.

Could lack of waste become a problem? Statement by Anna Grom and Paweł Lesiak for the Dziennik Gazeta Prawna daily

Without effective recycling, we will not meet our obligations to close the recycling loop, with the threat of heavy fines. However, we can take action today instead of waiting idly for change.

On this subject in Dziennik Gazeta Prawna Interzero Board Representatives spoke: Anna Grom and Paweł Lesiak.

"The suspension or closure of treatment plants is an increasingly common scenario also in Germany or Italy, i.e. countries where the financial outlay for the collection, sorting, transport and treatment system has been for years, and still is, much higher than in Poland". - says Anna Grom.

"The situation has clearly got out of hand, as no one seems to have assumed that the EU would import recyclate en masse from the other side of the world, about whose composition and quality we know nothing. It is high time to restrict imports of untested and often falsely labelled secondary raw materials. This is because they displace better-quality but more expensive locally processed material from the market. Closing the borders in this way could be good for everyone." - says Paweł Lesiak.

"I would suggest conducting an up-to-date and meticulous environmental auditThis year's experience has shown that even large operators, due to the lack of reliable verification, can overstate the weight of packaging by up to 40 per cent. This year's experience has shown that even large entities, due to the lack of reliable verification, are able to overstate the weight of packaging by up to 40 per cent." - Paweł Lesiak adds.

We encourage you to read the entire material "When lack of waste becomes a problem - are we facing millions in fines?" at the link: HERE

Interzero offices are closed on 26 January 2024.

Due to a resolution of the Boards of Directors of the Interzero Group companies in Poland, all Interzero offices will be closed on 26 January this year.

We will respond to any messages upon our return.

We apologise for any inconvenience.

Interzero Group mourns Markus Müller-Drexel

The Interzero Group in Poland regrets the death of Markus Müller-Drexel, CEO of Interzero. We are all deeply saddened by the loss of this outstanding leader, associated with Interzero for almost 30 years.

For more information, see the press release in German: HERE

Eco-experimentarium exhibition now in Walbrzych!

Interactive environmental education exhibition on tour again! 2024 begins with a visit to Walbrzych. The exhibition in partnership with Interzero will be available at the Centre for Unique Ceramics (Small Gallery) at Piotra Wysockiego 29 from 12 January to 30 March 2024.

Opening hours

For organised groups: Tue-Fri. 10:00 - 16:00 - LINK TO REGISTRATION HERE.

For individuals: Tue-Fri. 16:00 - 18:00 and weekends from 10:00 - 18:00

Why is it worth it?

This is a great opportunity to learn more about the climate and eco-friendly attitudes. The exhibition is built on the layout of a house - in the living room you will learn how to save energy, in the bathroom you will take care to use every drop of water, and in the kitchen you will learn about ways to cook in a zero waste style. This is a great opportunity for both young and old to learn and spend time in an interesting and useful way.

Admission to the exhibition is free! You are cordially invited.

Details here: https://ekoeksperymentarium.pl/

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.