Action for sustainable development
We are they
Our corporate culture of 'we are one' stands for respect, communication and responsibility. These values unite us - no matter what job we do at Interzero, and regardless of our background, beliefs or choice of partner. Even just looking at Interzero in Germany, you will find employees from 41 countries ranging in age from 16 to 67. We also work to ensure equal opportunities for our employees. We value diversity, take an interest in colleagues and learn from each other. Our competency model reflects a shared understanding of values and provides a guideline for all employees. It is also a starting point to stimulate commitment to the vision of zero waste - zero waste every day: we do not rest on our laurels, but strive to find the right ways to fulfil this vision.
"Each of us can contribute to a sustainable corporate culture. As Sustainability Ambassadors, our employees can present their own ideas and sustainable projects that contribute to the success of the company. A wide-ranging team promotes these initiatives at Interzero: this keeps the communication channels open and helps us present sustainability as an ongoing process."
Christine Kleinhammes
Senior Business Development Project Manager
Staff initiatives for sustainable development
Together we can achieve more. That is why our employees actively contribute to making Interzero a more sustainable company. Since 2016, our Sustainability Ambassadors have regularly organised Sustainability Week, involving employees in joint clean-ups, sharing economy campaigns and commuting programmes that reduce CO2. The urban cycling campaign is also very popular. Its aim is to cycle as many kilometres as possible in three weeks to contribute to climate protection and raise awareness of the need to expand the city's cycling infrastructure. In 2017, Interzero employees covered almost 7,500 kilometres on bicycles. This helped to reduce CO2 by around 1 tonne, and save €675 that would otherwise have been spent on buying fuel.
Stepping outside the box: two steps
Companies have a key role to play in stopping global warming. What actions should they take to reduce global warming? The strategy adopted by the Road to a <2° Economy initiative is: "We achieve more if we work together." Through an interdisciplinary approach, it unites diverse industries, specialisations and perspectives to make progress towards a common goal. Interzero, together with around 40 other companies, is an active participant in this pioneering project, which was launched by the 2° Foundation and WWF Germany.
Ideas for a sustainable economy
As experts in the field of the circular economy, we transfer our expertise by building a dialogue with researchers, business and the general public. One such activity is the Centre for Sustainable Corporate Governance, a joint initiative of the business and R&D sectors based at the University of Witten / Herdecke in Germany. There, we support the recycling working group, as well as the development of the 'More Sustainable Business Food' standard.
We also support the following projects:
- Environmental education projects in cooperation with clients (McCormick, Dell, Mlekovita) (Poland)
- Eco garden at the Integration School in Warsaw (Poland)
- KidS (Köln)
- Jugend am Werk (Austria)
- Wiener Tafel (Austria)
- Verein Albatros e.V. (Wiesbaden, Germany)
- KidS (Germany)
- Aktion Friedensdorf e.V. (Germany)
- Erzbischöfliches Kinder- und Jugendheim St. Kilian (Germany)
- Sponsorship for Geyserhaus (Germany)
- Red Cross - voluntary blood donation (Germany)
- DKMS (Germany)
Contact
biuro@interzero.pl
Newsletter
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Environmental consulting
Advice environment
Professional consulting in the area of broadly defined environmental protection by a qualified team of experienced specialists operating in the areas of air emissions, water and wastewater management, waste and packaging management.
Environmental Sustainability Dashboard
Environmental Sustainability Dashboard (ESD) - is a solution for companies interested in monitoring sustainability-related data.
Environmental audits
Our audits guarantee knowledge of regulations and awareness of environmental best practice
Company registration with BDO
The obligation to register with BDO affects many companies, and the penalties for not registering can be very severe. Find out if you need to register your company with BDO!
Environmental outsourcing
Environmental outsourcing
Made4Circle
Made4Circle is a solution for companies interested in developing sustainable and recyclable packaging.
Training
You need environmental training? Do you want to train your employees? We can support you in this!
Preparation of documentation
We will support you in drawing up the necessary environmental documentation.
Eco-design of packaging
Made4Recycling - why eco-design?
Reports
Do you remember your reporting obligation?
Contact
audyty@interzero.pl
Reporting on sustainability performance
Sustainability Report 2020
In its 2020 Sustainability Report, Interzero presents a comprehensive overview of its social and environmental achievements for the fifth time. In doing so, Interzero shows customers, employees, suppliers and the general public what values guide the company in its day-to-day operations, what impact its business activities have on society and the environment, and what its sustainability progress looks like.
The report complies with the requirements of the Global Reporting Initiative and has been prepared in accordance with the GRI Standards: core variant.
Unless otherwise stated, the key figures and information presented are for the 2019 and 2020 financial years.
Download the 2020 Sustainability Report
You can read about how we manage sustainability, what targets we set ourselves and how far we have come on the road to a waste-free future in our 2020 Sustainability Report.
Download the 2020 sustainability magazine
We are looking for connections between environmental protection and economic development and in this way create added value. Our new sustainability magazine "Building bridges. Closing circles."
Files To downloads
Environmental education
Educational campaigns
Companiesy that introducesit on market products in packagingch, batteries or electrical or electronic equipment hasit an obligation to conduct public education campaigns. Their celem is raise awareness the environmental performance of society, especially in terms of progressivenia with waste. Environmental Education Team Interzero Youperform this duty on behalf of customers, implementing such projects as Eko no corners, Ekopakawhether Zero Waste Office.
EcoPak - how to explain to children what recycling is?
EcoPak is a multidimensional educational programme aimed at pre-school and early school-age children. It teaches through fun and creative work based on expert-developed content material. It supports teachers and educators by providing them with sound knowledge about the closed loop of raw materials.
Among other things, the programme produces educational kits whose content helps to implement active, engaging activities with students. They consist of ready-made scenarios, educational colouring books, art and creative materials, educational tools and games allowing for effective environmental and ecological education. So far, we have created materials and kits focused on waste fractions:
- Aluminium
- Bio-waste
- Batteries
- Wood
- Electro-waste
- Multi-material packaging
- Paper
- Glass
- Plastics
The potential of the programme grows year on year. Our experience of working with schools, libraries, cultural institutions or entrepreneurs confirms that we learn fastest and best by experiencing. EcoPak makes it possible to create just such smart education, which can easily be incorporated into both larger initiatives such as school or company picnics, employee actions, environmental competitions, but also into smaller ones such as home education.
Zero Waste Office - how to create a green workplace?
For us, a sustainable workplace means managing resources wisely, having a responsible team and being attentive to environmental issues. Taking this broader perspective into account in business very often allows savings and new growth potentials to be found by strengthening communication and collaboration.
Office Zero Waste is a comprehensive service whose starting point is a sustainability assessment of the office space. The study we start with is very broad in scope - in addition to issues of workplace organisation, it also considers the ways in which employees function or habits.
Changing the culture of an organisation to be environmentally friendly is a challenge. That is why we offer support in designing the office transformation process and educating employees internally. We also provide technologies to help deal with waste and build environmental awareness.
Office Zero Waste is a scalable service that we can tailor to both large and small businesses. We are also experienced in working with the public sector. With our support, any office can become a certified Zero Waste Office.
Eco edgeless, i.e. how not to let yourself greenwashing
In 'Eco without corners', we talk about ecology without bending reality. We dispel myths, fake news, half-truths. Our aim is to explain why waste should be separated, not just how to do it properly.
"Eco without the corners" was born out of the conviction that in a world, full of misinformation and greenwashing a reliable place with reliable news is needed. We bring you up to date on sustainability, recycling, closed loop, EU legislation related to waste management. We discuss the environmental impact of packaging, batteries, electro-waste and how they can be used as secondary raw materials. At the heart of this public education campaign is website. It is the site on the web that has been indicated as the best source of knowledge on waste and packaging by respondents to the consumer survey.
On the website you will find:
- a search engine for more than 1,000 wastes,
- consumer research reports,
- publications from the projects,
- thematic articles,
- podcasts with experts.
You are cordially invited to join the "Eco without corners" community on platforms Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcast.
Contact
edukacja@interzero.pl
Plastics recycling
Plastics recycling - turning waste into high quality regranulate
The Recycled-Resource plastics recycling process allows us to close the raw material cycle and obtain high-grade regranulate according to customer specifications. Discover our unique materials: Recythen® and Procyclen® - maximally environmentally friendly, 100% recycled and fully tailored to your needs.
Improved recycling of plastics - meet Recycled-Resource
Recycled-Resource is an innovative, award-winning process for processing plastics, which allows the production of high-quality regranulate with properties tailored to the customer's needs.
The Recycled-Resource process has been developed for the most demanding customers, who want to obtain regranulate with specific mechanical parameters and in the most environmentally friendly way possible. To meet these expectations, our plastic recycling technology is constantly being developed and improved. Key research and development work takes place in our new centre of competence in Maribor, Slovenia.
Our portfolio of recycled plastics
At our three recycling facilities we process a wide range of plastics and polyolefins into pure recyclates. Our recycling process mainly focuses on several plastics: LDPE, HDPE, PP, PET and EPS.
At the processing plant in Eisenhüttenstadt, Brandenburg, we use plastic packaging waste: polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE) to produce recyclate of uncompromising quality and high reusability.
Our range of recycled plastics is complemented by LDPE granulate and rPET regranulate produced at the Liebenau site and EPS processed at the facility located in Aschersleben.
- LDPE granulate is a recycled, pure, high-quality plastic that we manufacture to order for companies in the processing industry.
- Recycled EPS has a wide range of applications in various industries: from the manufacture of consumer goods to use in construction.
- Since 2023, we have been using a PET extrusion facility to close the raw material cycle and produce rPET pellets for the food retail sector.
Our offer includes both regranulates and mills of plastics for the processing industry.
Recythen® and Procyclen® - high quality plastic regranulate
The Recycled-Resource process produces 2 types of plastic pellets - Recythen® and Procyclen®. The raw materials for their production are obtained from household waste, among which polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) packaging predominate.
Procyclen® is an award-winning recycled material whose properties can be modified over a very wide range. Through reformulation, Procyclen® manufactured at our facility in Germany can be tailored to customer requirements in terms of fluidity, stability, UV resistance, temperature and colouring. Furthermore, Procyclen® meets the strict requirements stipulated for plastics used in the manufacture of new products and packaging and can be used for injection moulding and extrusion processes.
Our second type of regranulate - Recythen® - Instead, it can be used to manufacture products such as cable reels, garden furniture, drainage pipes or cable ducts.
Manufacturers who use Recythen® or Procyclen® in their plastic products can apply to the "Blue Angel" environmental label.
What do you gain by choosing Recycled-Resource - Advanced Plastic Recycling from Interzero?
Certified, reproducible quality of materials
Technical production support
Accurate technical documentation for all batches of recyclate
Security planning and security of supply
Upcycling opportunities and full REACH compliance
Real impact on the conservation of natural land resources
Choose plastic recycling from Interzero and protect the environment
Using our recycled plastics you contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere and help protect the planet's natural resources. The use of Procyclen® and Recythen® helps to reduce a company's negative impact on the environment, as confirmed in a study published by the Fraunhofer Institute UMSICHT.* With these raw materials, climate-damaging emissions can be reduced by up to 59% and primary energy consumption can be significantly reduced**.
* Calculations are based on ISO 14040 and 14044 life cycle assessment standards. The technologies compared correspond to the current state of knowledge. All results refer to one tonne of pellets.
** Assuming a consumption of 0.50 kWh per wash. This corresponds to energy efficiency class A.
Entrust the recycling of plastics to Interzero and reduce CO2 emissions
Such impressive statistics and environmental benefits motivate us to work hard to further improve our plastics recycling process. Interzero continuously strives to increase the efficiency of the Recycled-Resource processand thus to reduce the burden on the environment.
The production of the latest generation of Procyclen® takes place in 1 process step and consumes significantly less energy. Thanks to this we can achieve up to 50% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, reduce the cost of the entire recycling process plastics and contribute to the conservation of valuable natural resources.
Achieving such impressive results and huge environmental benefits is made possible by the innovative COREMA® cascade extrusion system. It allows individual programming of each plastic recycling procedure in such a way as to produce regranulate in 100% in just 1 production step according to the customer's needs and order. In April 2019, environmental service provider Interzero and technology manufacturer EREMA received a PRSE award for this innovation in the 'Recycling Machinery Innovation of the Year' category.
Interzero technologies that have gained international recognition
Plastics obtained through Interzero's material recycling process are of ever-increasing interest to manufacturers and distributors. Our The Recycled-Resource process and regranulate in the form of Procyclen® have also won a number of prestigious awards.
Europe 2020 plastics recycling awards:
- Nominated together with HOUE Design ApS in the category "Household and Leisure Product of the Year" for the "FALK Chair"
Plastics recycling awards Europe 2018
- Nominated in the category "Best packaging made from recycled plastics" for the "memo Box" reusable shipping system from memo AG
- In the category "Ambassador of the Year for Plastics Recycling" - for people who have made a special contribution to plastics recycling - Dr. Manica Ulcnik-Krump, Managing Director of the Competence Centre in Maribor, was nominated.
In March 2020, our competence centre in Slovenia received official international accreditation, making it the only recognised research institution in the EU specialising in the development and analysis of recycled plastics. Interzero has thus become a pioneer in the implementation of uniform quality standards across Europe.
Would you like to see for yourself the benefits of using our regranulates: Recythen® and Procyclen® in your business?
Write to us and discover a range of new possibilities with the most effective recycling of plastics artificial from Interzero!
Reports and certificates New
Resource conservation and climate protection
Interzero works with customers and partners to close raw material loops and achieve long-term climate change mitigation and resource conservation. The prestigious Fraunhofer UMSICHT publishes studies confirming the positive ecological effects of our work.
Scientifically proven climate protection
In its annual study 'resources SAVED by recycling', the Fraunhofer Institute UMSICHT calculates the extent to which the environment has been helped by Interzero's recycling services. In 2022 alone, this study showed that 2.1 million tonnes of resources were handled by closed-loop systems run by Interzero's companies such as Interzero in Germany, Austria, Poland; Italy and Slovenia, saving around 8.7 million tonnes of primary raw materials. This is comparable to the weight of 174,267 single-family homes. The companies also saved around 1 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions - this corresponds to the average annualCO2 emissions of over 100,000 four-person households.
Reducing transport, reusing IT devices
In another study from the "resources SAVED" series, Fraunhofer UMSICHT looked at the positive impact on resources and the climate from the refurbishing and reuse of IT and communications devices, as organised by Interzero. As one example, using refurbishment to extend the service life of just one laptop saves around 181 kg of primary raw materials and 154 kg of greenhouse gas emissions.
Interzero's Mobile Counting Centre (MCC) also helps save resources. The local availability of the mobile counting service for non-refillable bottles means companies avoid long trips to stationary counting centres. "resources SAVED" shows that the MCC's annual CO2 savings equal the amount removed by around three wooded football pitches.
"From recyclable product design to sustainable recovery, successful circular transformation requires all stakeholders in the value chain to pull together. "
Dr.-Ing. Markus Hiebel
Head of Department Sustainability and Resource Management Fraunhofer Institute UMSICHT
8,713,378
In 2022, Interzero conserved 8.7 million tonnes of primary resources by recycling 2.1 million tonnes of raw materials.
978,569
The recycling activities of Interzero reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 1 million tonnes in the past year.
2,339,396
Recycling of electrical appliances saved more than 2.3 million tonnes of primary resources.
721,353
The company processed more than 700 million tonnes of paper, paperboard and cardboard, thus avoided round about 180,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions.
513,272
A total of more than 500,000 tonnes of used glass was recycled, which reduced the use of primary raw material by 1 million tonnes.
577,353
The company recycled more than 570,000 tonnes of plastic, thereby conserving more than 2 million tonnes of primary raw materials.
"resources SAVED" certificates for our customers and partners
Sustainable competitive advantage: In cooperation with Interzero, you improve your ecological footprint and strengthen the bond with your customers. We show the amount of primary raw materials and greenhouse gases saved with us in your individual resource protection certificate, measured by your individual contribution - whether this is through recycling, the reuse of IT equipment or the reduction of transport routes.
Contact
biuro@interzero.pl
Reports and certificates
Scientifically proven resource efficiency
Full transparency for the benefit of customers and the public: once a year, the renowned Fraunhofer Institute UMSICHT assesses the environmental impact of the ALBA Group's recycling activities. In 2020 alone, we recovered almost 3.5 million tonnes of recyclable materials in Germany, Austria, Poland and Slovenia, saving around 28.8 million tonnes of primary raw materials. This is the result reported by experts at the Fraunhofer Institute UMSICHT in a report "Resources SAVED by recycling", investigating recycling of metals, waste electrical and electronic equipment, paper/cardboard, glass, plastics and wood.
"Recycling is an important part of a sustainable society: it contributes to saving resources and reduces greenhouse gas emissions, and reduces economic dependence on imported raw materials. The study clearly shows the important role played by companies such as the ALBA Group."
Dr.-Ing. Markus Hiebel
Director of the Department of Sustainability and Resource Management at the Fraunhofer Institute UMSICHT
12.545.215
Interzero saved 12.5 million tonnes of primary resources by recycling 1.8 million tonnes of recyclable materials.
978.256
Interzero's recycling activities have saved 1 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions.
2.123.289
2 million tonnes of primary raw materials have been saved by recycling electronic devices.
574.855
The company recycled 575,000 tonnes of paper, cardboard and paperboard, saving around 183,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions.
366.897
We recycled more than 365,000 tonnes of glass waste, reducing the use of primary raw materials by 800,000 tonnes.
355.529
The company has recycled more than 350,000 tonnes of plastic, saving more than 1.2 million tonnes of virgin raw materials.
Resources SAVED by recycling - certification for our customers and partners
Sustainable competitive advantage: in partnership with Interzero, you can reduce your environmental footprint and strengthen customer loyalty. Interzero presents your company's contribution to resource conservation with a certificate. Each resource conservation certificate and all relevant information can be displayed by logging into our Resources SAVED portal. All you need to do is enter the password you received with your certificate.
Portal "resources SAVED by recycling"
Are you a customer of ours and would you like to download the 'Resources SAVED by recycling' certificate? Go to the portal and log in using your individual access data.
We look forward to hearing from you. Get in touch with us.
biuro@interzero.pl
+48 22 742 10 22
Authorised representative
Authorised representative in Poland
Every entrepreneur who places electrical and electronic equipment on the market must fulfil a number of obligations stipulated by the WEEE Act. Polish companies may do it independently or through a recovery organisation. Foreign companies, on the other hand, may be obliged to appoint an authorised representative in Poland to perform introducer's duties on their behalf.
Are you required to appoint an authorised representative in Poland?
If your company meets the following conditions:
- is a producer of electrical and electronic equipment, imports or makes intra-Community acquisitions of equipment, orders equipment under own brand,
- is based outside Poland,
- sells electrical and electronic equipment to customers in Poland at a distance (online shop, sales platforms,...)
...then you are obliged to establish an authorised representative in Poland.
Companies that fail to comply with this obligation can be fined between £15,000 and £500,000.
Example:
I am a manufacturer of electrical and electronic equipment in the Czech Republic. I decide to sell my products online to customers in Poland using platforms such as Allegro, Arena, Ceneo, eBay, Erli or Amazon. Do I need to have an authorised representative in Poland?
Answer:
Yes, under Polish law you are obliged to appoint an authorised representative in Poland to perform the duties of an introducer on your behalf.
Who can be an authorised representative of your company?
The role of authorised representative in Poland may be fulfilled by natural persons, legal persons and organisational entities without legal personality. The only statutory condition is the need to have a registered office on Polish territory.
In order to establish your company's authorised representative in Poland, it is necessary to conclude a written contract with the selected entity. Once the contract is signed, your chosen representative will carry out your company's obligations through the recovery organisation.
The company's authorised representative in Poland can also be an electrical and electronic equipment recovery organisation, such as Interzero.
Interzero - Your authorised representative in Poland
We offer the service of an authorised representative in Poland to all businesses placing equipment on the Polish market. As an electrical and electronic equipment recovery organisation, we will perform all the duties of your company without any intermediaries. Our experts will get to know the specifics of your business and determine the type and status of your introductory duties, and then offer you the most advantageous deal.
By contracting directly with Interzero, you can be sure that your company's statutory obligations will be fulfilled reliable, timely and comprehensive.
If you are an intra-Community supplier of equipment or sell directly to customers outside of Poland by means of distance communication, you can use our assistance in establishing an authorised representative (sometimes referred to as an authorised representative) in the other EU countries in which the Interzero Group operates: Austria, Germany, Italy, Slovenia and Croatia.
Why appoint an authorised representative in Poland?
Establishing an authorised representative in Poland is not only an obligation, but also a number of benefits for your company. Which ones? Check!
Thanks to the establishment of a partnership with Interzero:
- you are fulfilling a statutory obligation on your part establishment of an authorised representative in Poland,
- you will be assured that any activities carried out on behalf of your company comply with current legislation,
- you will avoid severe consequences resulting from the incorrect implementation or non-implementation of your company's statutory obligations (e.g. in the form of financial penalties),
- you will provide foreign distributors of your equipment with the additional benefit of being exempted from the obligations of an equipment introducer
What responsibilities do we assume as an authorised representative of your company?
As an authorised representative of your company in Poland, Interzero will take over all obligations under the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Act. These include responsibilities:
- the organisation and financing of WEEE collection and treatment,
- achieve minimum annual WEEE collection rates (from 2021 onwards of 65% average annual weight of equipment introduced),
- achieve minimum levels of recovery and preparation for re-use and recycling of WEEE,
- to conclude a contract with the recycler under the terms of the Act,
- conducting public education campaigns,
- annual accounting for the obligation to conduct public education campaigns.
Remember that obligations of the producer are incumbent on all entities selling electrical and electronic equipment by means of distance communication directly to users in Poland, regardless of the type and volume of equipment placed on the Polish market! Sign a contract with Interzero today - with us, you will be freed from burdensome responsibilities and gain time for what is most important for the development of your business.
Why Interzero?
The Interzero Group has been providing integrated environmental services to customers in Poland, Europe and around the world for more than 30 years. We have extensive experience, wide-ranging competences and a qualified team of specialists who support entrepreneurs in almost all areas related to environmental protection every day.
Why should you choose Interzero as your company's authorised representative in Poland?
- We are an Electrical and Electronic Equipment Recovery Organization and for many years we have been fulfilling the statutory duties of an introducer for our customers.
- We offer competitive prices and the opportunity to take advantage of our wide range of other environmental services in one place.
- Our experts have extensive knowledge and many years of experience to ensure that your company's duties run smoothly and without problems.
- We are active in a number of EU countries and can therefore act as an authorised representative in other member states as well.
Not sure if your company should appoint an authorised representative in Poland? Do you have questions about the authorised representative service? Or maybe you want to set up an authorised representative in other EU countries? Write to us! Our experts will be happy to help you and dispel all your doubts.
Authorised representative in Poland - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Although the obligation to appoint an authorised representative in Poland has existed for a long time, many entrepreneurs are still unaware of its existence. Find out the answers to the most common questions of entrepreneurs and check whether this obligation also applies to your company!
An authorised representative is an entity having its registered office or place of residence in Poland, which is responsible for fulfilling the statutory obligations of producers placing electrical and electronic equipment on the market in Poland. It can be a natural person, an organisational unit without legal personality or a legal person, including an electrical and electronic equipment recovery organisation. All statutory duties of an authorised representative are performed through an electrical and electronic equipment recovery organisation.
Authorised representative assumes obligations only in respect of equipment from that manufacturer with which it has concluded a written agreement. Once the contract is signed, the authorised representative assumes responsibility for the performance of statutory duties, from which he or she is not relieved even by cooperation with a recovery organisation.
Obligation to appoint an authorised representative in Poland applies to companies that do not have a registered office in the country but sell electrical and electronic equipment directly to Polish consumers by means of distance communication (e.g. via sales platforms, own online shop, telesales). Companies that sell electrical and electronic equipment in a traditional manner (stationary shops, showrooms) may or may not establish a representative in Poland.
The obligation to establish an authorised representative in Poland was introduced by the Act of 11 September 2015 on waste electrical and electronic equipment, which came into force 1 January 2016. From now on, any company that is based in a Member State other than the Republic of Poland and sells equipment to Polish customers by means of distance communication is required to appoint an authorised representative in Poland.
According to the provisions of the WEEE Act, an authorised representative of a manufacturer in Poland may be a natural person, an organisational unit without legal personality or a legal person with its seat on the territory of Polandincluding an electrical and electronic equipment recovery organisation. It is worth remembering that each manufacturer may choose as its representative any entity which meets the aforementioned criteria, guided, for example, by the most favourable price, scope of additional services or the fact of previous fruitful cooperation with a given company in other areas.
According to the provisions of the Act of 11 September 2015 on waste electrical and electronic equipment, a manufacturer is not only the actual producer of the equipment, but also companies that import, make intra-Community acquisitions of equipment or order equipment under their own brand name.
It follows from Article 4(11) of the Act that a producer is defined as a natural person, an organisational unit without legal personality or a legal person who has its registered office in an EU country other than Poland and:
- manufactures equipment under his own name or trademark or markets equipment designed or manufactured for him in the territory of that Member State under his own name or trademark,
- resells in the territory of that Member State, under his own name or trademark, equipment manufactured by others (except where the equipment bears the name or trademark of another manufacturer or of the person introducing the equipment),
- in the course of a commercial activity, whether in return for payment or free of charge, from another country supplies equipment for distribution, consumption or use for the first time on the market of the EU country in which it is established (other than Poland),
- sells equipment on the national territory by means of distance communication directly to households or to users other than households.
Within the meaning of Article 4(11)(d) of the Act, a manufacturer is also a natural person, an unincorporated organisational unit or a legal person who is established in a non-EU member state and sells equipment in the national territory by means of distance communication directly to households or users other than households.
If your company:
- is a foreign entity,
- sells equipment directly to users by means of distance communication (including online platforms Ebay, Aliexpress, Amazon, Temu, etc.),
then you are obliged to appoint an authorised representative in Poland.
Some foreign entities are entitled to appoint an authorised representative in Poland.
If your company is based outside Poland and:
- manufactures equipment in EU countries under its own brand,
- introduces equipment manufactured on its behalf under its own brand,
- resells equipment under its own brand,
- imports or makes intra-Community acquisitions of equipment in the territory of an EU country other than Poland....
... and this equipment comes to Poland then you have the right to establish your authorised representative in Poland.
Such action can bring many benefits to the entrepreneur. First and foremost, it will make it easier for its business partners to comply with the introducer obligations under the Polish Act. Distributors, importers and other sellers of equipment of that manufacturer will be able to avoid the necessity of fulfilling numerous statutory obligations on their own - it will be sufficient for them to report the quantities of introduced equipment to an authorised representative, so that the latter will take care of reporting, settlement and ensuring collection, recovery and recycling of WEEE.
Another benefit is the improvement of the manufacturer's image in the eyes of consumers and potential business partners. The establishment of an authorised representative in Poland can be seen as an effort to increase the transparency of the manufacturer and to reduce the negative impact of its activities on the environment.