Newsletter

Deposit system for reusable packaging? It's possible with the Made4Loop service from Interzero!

The introduction of the Act of 14 April 2023 amending the regulations on the management of certain waste and the product fee has the effect of significantly restricting the circulation of single-use plastic products. This amendment is a consequence of the implementation of the European Union Directive of 5 June 2019, referred to as the SUP Directive.

From 1 July 2024, businesses selling drinks in disposable cups will have to provide their customers with alternative packaging that is more environmentally friendly and helps to reduce plastic waste. This is why Interzero is introducing a new service - Made 4 Loop.

Looping is a unique solution to implement sustainable, reusable and eco-friendly alternatives to disposable cups and food packaging in your business. The Made4Loop model developed by Interzero involves the use of reusable cups and packaging, which customers rent against a deposit and then return through a deposit system. In this way, the packaging remains in a closed loop and is reused dozens, if not hundreds of times.

Get a seamless implementation of your legal obligations. Create with us a customised design for mugs and boxes to match your company's offering. Reduce your carbon footprint and waste management costs!

You can read more about our new service HERE

What is the future of waste management shaping up to be? Are we drowning in a waste tsunami?

What is certain is that the future of waste management will be shaped by a number of factors, including technological change, changes in consumer culture, regulatory rules and increased environmental awareness.

The zero-waste economy is not only a vision of the future, but above all an environmental concept based on innovative ecological and economic solutions. This philosophy is closely linked to the idea of a closed loop economy. Its implementation requires the transformation of the entire production process and the development of a waste management system based on comprehensive education. Action is needed in many areas, such as reducing the amount of waste generated, promoting conscious consumption and increasing the recovery and recycling of raw materials.

Required recycling levels are already increasing. Selected single-use plastic products are disappearing from the European market. According to the plan, recyclate will be mandatory for certain packaging. All due to European regulations. This new circular economy architecture is still missing one important component, which is Extended Producer Responsibility.

How not to drown in the tangle of new legislation prepared by Polish and EU specialists was discussed at the panel "The waste tsunami, how not to drown in packaging".which took place on 12 October during the European Forum for New Ideas (EFNI). Panellists included:

– Anna Grom, CEO, Interzero Polska and Interzero Circular Solutions Europe
– Dr Katarzyna Baranska, head of the decarbonisation team, partner at law firm Osborne Clarke
– Joanna Leoniewska-Gogola, MBA, deputy director for sustainability and economics, Deloitte
– Piotr Romańczuk, Director of Environmental Affairs, Maspex Group
– Robert Szyman, Director General, Polish Plastics Converters Association

European Forum for New Ideas is one of the largest conferences dedicated to global trends, new ideas and the future of Europe. As Interzero, we strive to continually discuss the challenges in a changing world with business representatives and together shape a future that depends on us.

Thank you to the organisers for the invitation and to the panellists for the inspiring discussion. See you at EFNI 2023!

Recycling instead of wasting resources: hard evidence of contribution to sustainable business

We are publishing the study "RESOURCES SAVED by recycling". (resources SAVED by recycling) for 2022, in which we prove that Interzero and our customers are reducing greenhouse gas emissions by around 1 million tonnes and primary resource consumption by 8.7 million tonnes.

The consequences of global warming are becoming clearer by the week, and policy makers, researchers and entrepreneurs are discussing the right kinds of climate action. What can and should be done to achieve the climate goals we have set? At the same time, how can we ensure a sustainably high standard of living and a successful economy in Germany and Europe? One answer to this question is the systematic recycling of materials. The circular economy has already become a key factor in climate change mitigation.

This is clearly demonstrated by the work of Europe's leading closed-loop service provider, Interzero. As the study 'Resources SAVED through recycling' published today shows, in 2022 the company and Interzero's customers returned a total of 2.1 million tonnes of materials to circulation. This prevented around 1 million tonnes of greenhouse gases. At the same time, around 8.7 million tonnes of primary resources were saved.

"Our study aims to show that recycling is both an effective and necessary instrument for cutting climate-damaging emissions, protecting valuable resources and therefore countering the overexploitation of our natural environment. We need the transformation into a real closed-loop economy to maintain the quality of life on our planet. Today, this is the most important collective task that we are facing." Sebastiaan Krol, CEO of Interzero Circular Solutions, said.

Since 2008, Interzero has used the scientific study 'Resources SAVED by recycling' to report on the overall positive environmental impact of recycling. This comprehensive life cycle assessment report - developed by the Fraunhofer Institute for Environment, Safety and Energy Technology UMSICHT - is based on a detailed comparison of primary production and recycling, including all required process steps. The standardised methodology enables accurate quantification of resource savings and greenhouse gas emissions.

"Now in its fifteenth year, this study makes the environmental benefits of recycling both tangible and understandable. Looking to the future, this will be increasingly important to raise awareness about climate action and the sustainable handling of our raw materials among businesses and consumers alike." - comments Dr Markus Hiebel, Head of Sustainability at Fraunhofer UMSICHT.

Data from Fraunhofer UMSICHT are also an important part of the conservation campaign "One World. Zero Waste. Let's #MoveTheDate".which Interzero has launched in partnership with the Global Footprint Network (GFN). According to GFN's latest calculations, the world's Environmental Debt Day in 2023 would have fallen 7 minutes and 16 seconds earlier if Interzero and its customers had not continued to recycle.

Read the full press release (in English) at the link HERE

And with the report of our research HERE

What is the bail system in Germany and how does it work? Interzero in Berlin

The deposit system in Germany, known as 'Pfand' or 'Pfandsystem', is a well-developed and widely used system that aims to encourage consumer recycling and reduce packaging waste. For single-use bottles, the deposit amount is 25 euro cents. The deposit price for reusable bottles is set by the manufacturer and ranges from 8 to 25 euro cents.

The entire deposit system covers up to 18 billion packages per year, of which 95% are handled by bottle machines and 5% by a bag system.

On 24 August, together with employees from the Eurocash Group, we travelled to Germany to look at the bail system in practice. Together, we visited shops with both bagged and automatic collection systems. We also visited the Interzero Conversion Centre, where waste is sorted into the appropriate fractions.

Thanks to the trip, we were able to see with our own eyes how retail chains deal with German legislation. We were able to exchange experiences with our partners and learn more about the procedures taking place in the units visited.

The bail system will soon come into effect in Poland. As Interzero, we strive to learn as much as possible about the needs of the industry. We refine our offering, analyse the successes of others and explore opportunities for development. We believe that together we will be able to meet the legal challenges and create a system as efficient as that of our western neighbours.

Benefit from our experience and create a bail system together with us. We will provide you with solutions to facilitate waste collection and logistics and take over reporting obligations. More information HERE and HERE.

Eco-design or eco-saving? How can packaging design help entrepreneurs? 

The European Union is moving towards stricter and stricter regulations for packaging put on the market. Its aim is to transform the linear economy into a circular economy, aiming to reducing the amount of waste produced.

To help companies adapt to upcoming regulatory changes that will favour recyclable packaging, Interzero has introduced an eco-design support programme called Made4Circle.

What is the M4C?

This modular solution for companies of all sizes interested in developing sustainable and recyclable packaging. Drawing on the expertise of packaging recycling experts, we offer support in creating packaging with minimal environmental impact that simultaneously meets legal requirements and meets the needs of the product's consumers. The Made4Circle service consists of 4 main stages that take into account all manufacturers' business needs: preliminary analysis, detailed analysis, solution design and impact assessment.

We encourage you to read the press release about our service HERE

Read more about Made4Circle on our subpage HERE

Publication of the law transposing the SUP Directive

A week ago, On 9 May 2023, a law was published implementing the provisions of the SUP (Single Use Plastics) Directive, which means that the legislation will soon enter into force.

The regulations mainly focus on imposing restrictions and requirements on the marketing and use of single-use products made of plastics, and on the separate collection of waste from these products, and introduce obligations:

• The labelling of certain products with symbols used, for example, on cups containing plastics.
• Impose new types of charges, specific to plastic products, such as an end-user charge per unit of packaging, a charge for collection, cleaning and transport, and a charge for public education campaigns.
• For beverage cups and food containers, the provision of alternative reusable packaging or packaging made of materials other than plastic from 1 July 2024.
• The use of recycled plastics in bottles.
• Achieve minimum collection rates for beverage packaging waste in the form of single-use plastic bottles of up to 3 litres,
• Reporting of all activities through the BDO system.

The full text of the law is available HERE 

Do you already know all about product levy and extended producer responsibility?

Product charge is a type of environmental fee that must be paid by entrepreneurs who place products, packaging, oils, tyres, electrical and electronic equipment, batteries and accumulators on the market. The purpose of this fee is to ensure proper handling of packaging waste in accordance with the Waste Act and to encourage entrepreneurs to reduce the amount of packaging produced.

If you would like to learn more about this obligation, we encourage you to watch the training course "Does the product levy apply to your company?" at Interzero Academy!

During the training you will learn:

• What is a product charge,
• What is Extended Producer Responsibility,
• You will learn about the requirements for entrepreneurs related to the ROP.

Watch the training HERE