Technical innovations and political efforts are leading to an increased use of lightweight packaging made from paper- and cardboard-based materials, as well as other cellulose fiber products. Fiber-based lightweight packaging is used in combination with, for example, plastics and often has residual contamination compared to newspapers and cardboard boxes. The existing paper and cardboard recyclers in Switzerland are not specialized in these lightweight packaging materials, meaning that they can severely disrupt the current recycling process. In the conventional paper and cardboard stream, these packaging materials are therefore currently regarded as rejects.
Subject of investigation
Together with Swiss Recycle, we asked ourselves the following questions:
- What possibilities exist for these to be recycled in Switzerland?
- Can the packaging design contribute to recycling via the existing collection stream of paper and cardboard packaging?
- How can the existing high-quality recycling stream of paper and cardboard be maintained?
- Which stakeholders in the value chain need to collaborate to recycle this lightweight packaging?
Approach
In the first step, we analyze the status quo of existing fiber-based lightweight packaging on the Swiss market. Among other things, we examine their recyclability in order to derive design and system recommendations from the results. Subsequently, we would like to develop and evaluate ecologically, economically, and socially sustainable scenarios for the recycling path. We will involve experts and stakeholders along today's value chain in this scenario development in order to incorporate experience from home and abroad and develop a jointly viable solution.
Networking with the stakeholders is of central importance in order to define reliable scenarios and identify economically viable solutions with high ecological benefits. Contact us if you are interested in a collaboration!