PET collection project in Italy: Together with COREPLA, the leading national consortium for the collection and recycling of plastic packaging, Interzero launched an ambitious nationwide pilot project in Italy in 2022. The collaboration partners aimed to ensure comprehensive collection, traceability of PET streams and scalability of the solution. In the first phase, more than 100 returnable vending machines were set up in the outlets of major retailers. To motivate consumers to return empty PET bottles, Interzero also developed an app through which users can collect bonus points and exchange them for shopping vouchers.

The project was an immediate success: by the end of 2023. Italy achieved an impressive collection rate of 78% of PET bottles on the market, already exceeding the EU's 2025 requirement of 77%. COREPLA has received funding from the EU to expand existing capacity; 1,000 more recyclers are to be installed in retail shops within three years. Interzero Italy also benefits from this: "We have created a win-win partnership that strengthens our strategic positioning and demonstrates our proven expertise in innovative business solutions," - says Sergio Patacchini, project manager of Interzero Circular Solutions Italy. The experience gained provides a good basis for the continued successful implementation of the project - and perhaps to support the implementation of the bail system at national level.