EkoEksperymentarium , a project we are a partner of, is starting its ecological journey to Opole! When and where?
Date: From July 4 to September 27, 2024.
Place: Municipal Education Support Centre in Opole, Powstańców Śląskich St. 19.

What is EcoExperimentarium?
EkoEksperymentarium is a project that shapes and develops good ecological practices in children. It teaches in an interactive way how to consciously shop, save water, or clean. At the exhibition you will find various thematic zones, referring to rooms in the house:

1. BEDROOM: Less is more! Learn how to minimize your possessions.
2. BATHROOM: Every drop counts! Save water and take care of the environment.
3. CUISINE: Eat local, healthy and seasonal! Learn simple ways to change your eating habits.
4. LIVING ROOM: Don’t let energy vampires get to you! Save energy in your home.

• You will learn how to save resources and take care of the planet on a daily basis.
• You will gain practical tips that you can implement in your life.
• This is a great opportunity to learn simple ways to change your daily habits to be more eco-friendly.

We cordially invite you! This is a unique opportunity to contribute to environmental protection and inspire children to change their habits. More information on the EkoEksperymentarium website

Every company that uses the environment, even to a small extent, should be prepared for a WIOŚ inspection. If you want to go through the entire inspection procedure without any problems, take part in the stationary Interzero training “Environmental Protection Inspection Control in an Enterprise”, which will take place on August 8 in Łódź.

The aim of the training is to introduce environmental protection regulations that relate to the area of WIOŚ control in the enterprise.

During the training you will learn:

1. the objectives of the establishment and the organizational structure of the Environmental Protection Inspectorate
2. a catalogue of entities that may be inspected by the Inspectorate,
3. types of inspections carried out by WIOŚ,
4. the course of control in the enterprise step by step,
5. control tasks of the Inspection,
6. the most important aspects of control in the light of the provisions of the Entrepreneurs’ Law Act,
7. powers of WIOŚ inspectors during inspections,
8. rights and obligations of the controlled entity,
9. types of control summary and post-control activities.

The training will be led by: Łukasz Pachucki , Senior Environmental Protection Specialist at Interzero and Interzero Academy Lecturer. Date: August 8, 2024 (Thursday), 10:00-13:00 Location: Interzero Advisory Sp. z o. o., Łódź, ul. Wólczańska 178, building A

The use of the environment in businesses is much more common than you might think. If your company:

• introduces gases and dust into the air (e.g. from company cars, boiler rooms or generated during technological processes),
• emits greenhouse gases,
• stores waste,

it can be inspected by WIOŚ at any time in a planned or unplanned mode. You will not be informed about an unplanned inspection, so you will not have time to prepare yourself properly! Training in environmental protection inspection will allow you to gain practical knowledge, thanks to which you will prepare your company to receive WIOŚ inspectors and make it easier for yourself to go through the inspection procedure . After completing the training, you will receive an electronic certificate, a set of training materials and 2 weeks of access to online consultations with the instructor.

Training on WIOŚ control in an enterprise is addressed to persons responsible for environmental protection issues, including:

• business owners,
• full-time environmental protection specialists,
• external consultants providing services related to environmental protection.

The recommended level of knowledge for all participants is intermediate or advanced. Limited number of places!

Sign up for stationary training in Łódź >>

We invite you!

The Interzero Waste Platform is a dedicated online system that enables comprehensive waste management in your company. With it, you can reduce waste management costs, automate waste records in BDO and increase revenues from the sale of raw materials. The platform allows you to keep automatic waste records, plan waste removals and generate waste removal notifications . This tool saves time and minimizes potential errors in the system.

What is waste pricing?

Waste valuation at Interzero is a convenient solution that relieves you of the burden of searching for companies offering waste collection. It is also a way of earning money from raw materials. If you produce or store types of waste valued by recyclers, you can sell them for a profit, and at the same time save on waste removal and logistics costs. The Interzero Waste Platform allows you to compare quotes and choose the best offer . Just fill out the form, provide the type and quantity of waste, and our specialists will contact you. You can also attach a photo of your waste if you have trouble determining the right code! The platform generates transparent cost reports, allowing you to quickly obtain the information you need. You can track revenues and costs related to the transferred waste and municipal payments for the collection of municipal waste. If you need more information, visit the Interzero Waste Platform website .

In 2024, Interzero proudly announced its next commitment as a partner of the Rowerowy Maj campaign. This initiative, which is the largest campaign in Poland promoting sustainable mobility among preschool children, primary school students, teachers, parents and guardians, perfectly aligns with our company’s goals.

What is Bicycle May? Bicycle May is a campaign that encourages the use of bicycles as a means of transport to school. Through fun and gamification elements, the campaign teaches children and young people good habits that stay with them after the campaign ends. Thanks to this, the number of cars transporting students is decreasing, and the areas around schools are becoming safer and more friendly to cyclists. By supporting the Bicycle May campaign, we want to:

• Educate the public about sustainable mobility.
• Motivate children and young people to actively commute to schools and kindergartens.
• Together, create a safe and cyclist-friendly environment around educational institutions.

At the end of the Bicycle May campaign, a picnic was held, during which prizes were awarded to the most active participants. Interzero also organized eco spa and candle-making workshops. We also provided our EcoPacks to the most active facilities, supporting ecological attitudes. The Bicycle May campaign is not only fun and stickers in bicycle diaries.

These are real actions that contribute to changing habits and improving the quality of life in our cities.

The next edition is less than a year away. Get on a bike, encourage your children and students to commute actively, and together we will change our cities for the better!

The Retail Trends 2024 trade fair took place on June 18, 2024 at the DoubleTree by Hilton hotel in Warsaw. The event gathered hundreds of guests and dozens of exhibitors. The slogan of this year’s event was “New opening, new opportunities”. Over 80 speakers walked through all stages of Retail Trends. Participants had the opportunity to listen to dozens of lectures and debates. The topics included business models and new sources of revenue in the trade sector. During the substantive discussions on the main stage, our specialist Paweł Sosnowski, Representative of the Management Board for Environmental Regulations, could not be missed. He took part in the debate “Transformation is the only way! How will the deposit system and the green revolution change the retail sector and the packaging market?”. The discussions jointly considered, among others, the stages of preparation for the implementation of the deposit system in Polish trade and the food industry and the impact of the CSRD directive on trade-supplier relations and issues related to the green supply chain. The debate was a place for exchanging views on the transformation of the retail sector in the context of sustainability and environmental protection. In parallel to the substantive program, trade fairs were held, where exhibitors presented the most interesting novelties in the area of FMCG , shop equipment and services and technologies for the retail industry. Starting next year, retail chains will be equipped with bottle vending machines for collecting packaging, in connection with the deposit system introduced in Poland. We presented Sielaff brand recyclers to visitors to our stand, of which we are the exclusive distributor in Poland . The presence of specialists from the manufacturer’s side allowed us to answer questions of those interested even more precisely. Thank you for the opportunity to participate in such a valuable event.

We hope to see you next year!

More information about the event can be found on the organizer’s website.

Sustainable development in business

Mateusz Jemioł, advertising producer and director, and CEO of Mova Film, will talk about ESG from a marketing perspective in his lecture “Can the topic of garbage captivate crowds? A recipe for an effective social campaign.”

The progressive technological development can go hand in hand with ecology – and this is thanks to digital tools supporting waste management. Aleksandra Mikiel, Operations Director at Interzero, will talk about Interzero Waste Platform – a waste management tool.

The Interzero Environmental Conference is a great place not only to gain new inspiration, but also to showcase your company.

Cementownia Odra , the oldest operating plant of this type in Poland, opens its gates to the general public every two years. This year’s event was exceptional because it was organized for the first time since the pandemic. As in previous years, it attracted crowds of visitors who had the opportunity to see the facility and explore the secrets of cement production, including technologies that minimize the impact of the installation on the environment. Wojciech Putra, president of Cementownia Odra, emphasized in his speech that good neighborliness requires trust, and the Open Day is an excellent opportunity to see for yourself what actions are taken in the area of social and environmental responsibility. Residents of Opole learned, among other things, that the cement production process is waste-free and at the same time allows for the management of many difficult wastes, such as:

• Fly ash (waste from power plants or combined heat and power plants)
• Granulated blast furnace slag (waste from the steel industry)
• Reagipsy (waste from the flue gas desulfurization process)
• Copper slag (waste from copper smelters)
• Steel slags (by-product of the converter process)
• Alternative fuels (municipal and industrial waste)

Currently, 40% of the raw materials used in the production of Portland cement in the Odra Cement Plant come from waste, and 60% of the energy is produced from alternative fuels. In addition to sightseeing, the organizers provided a number of attractions, including performances by artists singing the greatest hits from the Opole festival and a festival for children.

In the zone for the youngest, the Interzero stand was very popular, where through play you could learn the rules for proper waste segregation or prepare a small gift for your loved ones.

The Open Day at Cementownia Odra showed how this plant combines tradition with innovation and how it cares for the environment and the local community. Interzero was one of the partners of the Open Day at Cementownia Odra.

Entrepreneurs running franchise outlets often offer their customers drinks and food in single-use takeaway packaging. Such packaging is subject to a recycling obligation or a product fee (in the event of failure to achieve the required level of recycling), which should be paid by the franchisee, not the franchisor. How much is the product fee and can the franchisee avoid it?

NO. The obligations: recycling and paying the product fee apply to all entrepreneurs indicated in the act. However, our experience shows that it is the franchisees who are often unaware of their obligations . Many entrepreneurs running franchise outlets wrongly assume that recycling and the product fee remain with the franchisor, whose logo appears on all beverage and food packaging. Such ignorance often has unpleasant consequences – failure to meet environmental obligations results in the immediate need to pay a high product fee, and in some cases also in the imposition of a financial penalty. Let us recall: the obligation to ensure the recycling of packaging waste and to pay the product fee may also apply to franchisees running:

• restaurants, pizzerias and other catering outlets,
• cafes (including mobile ones!), drink points (e.g. bubble tea),
• gas stations,
• shops,
• bakeries and confectioneries.

The above calculation is only an example – the mandatory product fee may also apply to other companies. It is also worth remembering that the act provides for a number of exemptions from the obligation to pay the product fee.

The product fee for packaging and packaged products is covered by among others all packaging used for takeaway food and drinks, e.g.:

• cups for drinks,
• cup lids and covers,
• dishes, e.g. plates, bowls,
• food containers (with or without lid): boxes, trays, boxes, buckets, paper packaging for popcorn or fries.

As a franchisee introducing products in packaging, you are required to keep records of this packaging, broken down by the type of material from which it was made. Such records are the basis for determining the amount of the product fee due, which is calculated based on the weight of the introduced packaging for which the entrepreneur has not achieved the statutory level of recovery and recycling.

Individual packaging materials are subject to different product fee rates. In the case of the most popular types of takeaway food and drink packaging, the product fee rates are as follows:

• plastic packaging – PLN 2.70/kg,
• paper and cardboard packaging – PLN 0.70/kg,
• multi-material packaging – PLN 1.70/kg,
• wooden packaging – PLN 0.30/kg,
• other packages – PLN 1/kg.

Although the amounts for 1 kg of packaging are not very large, the sum of the product fee for the entire year often makes entrepreneurs dizzy . Importantly, the product fee for packaging can be avoided by fulfilling the recycling obligation. Each entrepreneur can do it on their own, ensuring recycling of 100% of the introduced packaging or with the help of the Interzero recovery organization, without worrying about minimum recycling levels.

Fulfilling environmental obligations is only a small fraction of all the challenges you face as an entrepreneur and franchisee. Fortunately, you can delegate some of your responsibilities to Interzero’s environmental experts. This will save you not only time, but also money – for a small fee , we will take over your obligation to recycle packaging waste, and you will avoid a high product fee . By entrusting your obligation to Interzero, you will gain:

• fixed, low cost of taking over the obligation,
• the ability to conclude an online contract in 3 simple steps,
• official confirmation of the correct performance of the obligation for a given year,
• convenient access to documents related to the assumption of the obligation via the Moje Interzero portal,
• a certificate for your company and an annual report on the conduct of Public Education Campaigns.

Check how much you can save by transferring your recovery and recycling obligations to Interzero!

The obligations that entrepreneurs face, combined with changes in legal regulations, create uncertainty for those running their own business or working full-time. Although environmental protection is a small part of running a business, its importance cannot be overestimated.

The PPWR regulations will come into full force by the end of 2025 and will primarily affect producers and manufacturers. This will require almost every manufacturer to fully comply with the guidelines related to the reuse of raw materials and the implementation of reusable packaging. This project aims to reduce packaging pollution and promote a circular economy for packaging. In relation to industry, the regulations aim to create new business prospects, reduce the demand for primary raw materials and increase the European Union’s capacity in the field of recycling. It is worth emphasizing that by 2030, all packaging on the EU market must be recyclable. The amendment to the Act on the Management of Packaging and Packaging Waste also introduced solutions aimed at increasing the efficiency of waste management, especially that coming from beverage packaging – this is precisely the deposit system, which will come into force in our country from 2025. In connection with the above, until the end of the month you can take advantage of a promotional price for selected training courses at Interzero Academy on the subject of PPWR, SUP and the deposit system. Check out our offer at the link. More about PPWR also in the upcoming live webinar entitled “PPWR – a new challenge for those introducing packaged products”, which will be led by Paweł Sosnowski on June 20.

Register today!

We invite you to unique workshops devoted to the role of recycling in the Circular Economy (CE) and the operation of the deposit-refund system . The meeting will be held on June 12, 2024 at PRT Radomsko Sp. z o. o. (ul. Geodetów 8, 97-500 Radomsko).

The meeting is organized by the Polish Chamber of Packaging Recovery and Recycling in cooperation with Interzero, CPG Cluster, Ecokaucja SA, and the Foundation for Ecological and Educational Solutions “GREEN”.

During the workshops we will discuss key issues related to legislation, eco-design, recovery and recycling of packaging. We will then move from theory to the practical conditions of packaging waste management.

The workshop program includes:

1. Introductory presentation: “The impact of recycling on the circular economy”
2. Discussion panel: “Practical aspects of the deposit system”
3. PET Bottle Recycling Plant Tour: Discovering the Process and New Life for Plastic

Check out the full event agenda

The meeting is divided into two groups. The first group will meet at 9:00 a.m. and the second at 12:30 p.m. Each meeting will begin with a discussion on recycling legislation and practice in the circular economy, and then participants will have the opportunity to tour the PRT Radomsko plant and see the PET bottle recycling installations and process live. Details on how to register at the link.

We invite you to participate for free! The number of places is limited, the order of applications decides.

See you at the workshops!