Packaging Cockpit – Making the recyclability of packaging comparable in Switzerland
The packaging industry is currently facing major challenges. The Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR, also known as the EU Packaging Regulation) is a regulation that will be binding for all EU member states and will require a rethink and new approaches to packaging development in many respects. Examples include recyclability, recycled content, and regulations on [...]
VOBU Study «Requirement for Material Recycling of EPS and XPS Insulation Materials»
Initial situation Insulation materials greatly reduce the energy consumption of buildings. However, their production contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions in the construction industry. The production and energy recovery of expanded polystyrene (EPS) alone generates around 130,000 tons of CO₂ equivalents every year in Switzerland. With the predicted increase in deconstructed insulation materials, the question of sustainable recycling is becoming increasingly [...]
Use of recycled PS behind a functional barrier
The use of secondary materials in food packaging is a central element in the implementation of a circular economy for packaging. The utilization rates of secondary materials required in other European countries make the use of recycled plastics necessary in the food sector as well. However, this is associated with uncertainties regarding the quality of the secondary polymers and the migration behavior of contaminants. With the new regulation […]
Reffnet Case: Resource efficiency in mattress production
BICO is a renowned manufacturer of high-quality mattresses and bed systems. The company belongs to the international Hilding Anders Group and places great emphasis on quality, comfort, and innovation. Hilding Anders Switzerland is committed to sustainability by using environmentally friendly production processes and recyclable materials. They are also part of the recently founded Mattress Alliance, which is committed to promoting the circular economy of mattresses. […]
cycleworks – Plastics in Construction
Background: Plastics in Construction. Plastics have become indispensable in the construction industry. Their technical properties enable a wide range of applications, through which they can make an important contribution to reducing the environmental impact. Approximately 23% of the annual Swiss consumption of plastics, amounting to 1 million tonnes, is used in the construction industry. But what happens to these […] after use?
Establishing closed-loop systems for food contact rPP (FCMrPP)
As part of an Innosuisse project, we collaborated with research and industry partners to investigate the feasibility of a closed-loop system for polypropylene (PP) food packaging in Switzerland. We simulated the first complete Swiss cycle for secondary PP in food applications, from the collection of post-consumer plastic waste to the production of test specimens. The focus was particularly on practical implementation, the […]
Mattress recycling for the circular economy
For the Mattress Alliance, founded in 2021, realcycle is working on various sub-projects as part of a BAFU environmental technology promotion project to increase the circularity of mattresses in Switzerland: Eco-design sub-project Design is the starting point for a sustainable circular economy. Only through appropriate design can resource consumption be minimized, durability ensured, and the service life extended [...].
Survey of industrial and commercial packaging
Packaging accounts for 40% of plastic consumption and a large proportion of cardboard consumption. However, while consumer goods packaging has been the focus of attention in recent years and various projects are underway to optimize it, there is a lack of relevant knowledge when it comes to commercial and industrial packaging (C&I packaging). To date, there have been no comprehensive statistics on the volume flows or the materials used [...].
Circular Economy for Polypropylene (CE4PP)
Polypropylene (PP) is one of the most important types of plastic used today. However, it has not yet been possible to establish a closed loop for PP food packaging. The latest research by realcycle GmbH (formerly REDILO GmbH) and the KATZ Plastics Training and Technology Center shows promising results in terms of technical possibilities. This allows clear requirements for a future collection and recycling system to be derived. In the […]
The future of separate collection of recyclable materials in Switzerland
The aim of the study was to demonstrate how waste collections in Switzerland should be structured in the future. Does Switzerland still have ecological and economic potential for further (separate) collections? If so, which specific products and packaging are involved and how should they be prioritized? Because in terms of the principle of eco-efficiency and impact efficiency [...]