Overview of collection systems for plastics in the construction industry
Plastics in the construction industry have so far received little attention with regard to the circular economy. This is despite the fact that a large proportion of plastics are used in the construction industry today (kunststoff.swiss 2023) and these also contribute significantly to the construction industry's GHG emissions (Heeren & Hellweg 2019). The majority of GHG emissions come from the production and incineration of plastic products at [...]
Plastics recycling in the construction industry: acting together
The project - in a nutshell Plastics play an important role in the construction industry due to their wide range of applications (see illustration below). Construction accounts for around a quarter of Switzerland's annual plastics consumption. However, little attention is currently paid to the plastics used when it comes to sustainability in the construction industry, although the recycling of plastics [...]
SWIRCULAR: a Swiss Digital Circular Construction Ecosystem
As part of the Innosuisse Flagship Call 2023, the SWIRCULAR project aims to revolutionize the Swiss construction industry. It addresses the urgent need for a transition to a circular economy in the built environment. The project focuses on the joint development of legal, economic and technical innovations. With this comprehensive approach, SWIRCULAR aims to bring about a change towards [...]
Neutralization of HBCD (flame retardant) in "old" EPS insulation materials
Background Insulation materials for buildings can be made from a wide variety of materials. Expanded polystyrene (EPS) and extruded polystyrene (XPS) are frequently used today. Like other thermoplastics, these materials are theoretically easy to recycle. In addition, according to several studies, the amount of post-consumer insulation materials will increase significantly in the future. The potential to recycle these materials [...]
VOBU study "Specification for material recycling of EPS and XPS insulation materials"
Background According to the federal government's environmental targets, the proportion of secondary raw materials used should be massively increased by 2030. There is great potential in the construction industry for plastic insulation materials. In Switzerland, most of the plastic insulation waste consisting of expanded polystyrene (EPS) and extruded polystyrene (XPS) is currently recycled thermally rather than materially. This is due to the [...]
cycleworks - Plastics in construction
Background Plastics in construction It is impossible to imagine the construction industry without plastics. Their technical properties allow them to be used in a wide range of applications, through which they can make an important contribution to reducing environmental pollution. Around 23% of the 1 million tons of plastics consumed in Switzerland each year are used in the construction industry. But what happens to these plastics after [...]
Circoplast - Circular Construction Plastics
In Switzerland, more than 1 million tons of plastics are consumed annually, 22% of which are used by the construction industry. In order to extend the lifetime of these 220,000 tons of plastics, realcycle GmbH (formerly REDILO GmbH) has launched the Circoplast project. In cooperation with stakeholders from the construction and plastics industry, recycling companies and the [...]
Quality for Circular Economy
Changing regulations, increasing environmental burdens and national/international crises force companies to act flexibly. This flexibility can be achieved by integrating circular economy strategies into quality management. In cooperation with the Swiss Association for Quality (SAQ), realcycle GmbH (formerly REDILO GmbH) has conducted interviews with stakeholders from various industries (food, textile, watches, construction, tech, medtech and packaging) [...]
Plastics Recycling Switzerland (Report Modules 1 and 2)
Modules 1 and 2 of the "Plastics Recycling Switzerland" project comprised an analysis of the current situation as well as the updating and verification of the plastic volume flows and the corresponding recycling potentials in Switzerland. Plastics from households as well as plastics from industry, trade and agriculture were examined. Furthermore, the study shows trends and developments from the national and international environment. [...]
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