Packaging Optimization for Sportswear
The project aimed to sustainably optimize various cardboard packaging solutions for Odlo. Founded in 1946, the company is globally recognized for its outdoor apparel. In addition to supporting top athletes, Odlo also offers a wide range of products for the general public. Odlo is now facing new challenges, increasingly encountering the desire for less plastic, fewer […]
cycleworks – Closing the Loop PS Switzerland
Plastics have become indispensable in our everyday lives, but their use also leads to massive environmental pollution. A promising solution to mitigate these impacts is material recycling. Our exchange starts right here: Since 2020, stakeholders along the entire value chain have been committed to a closed loop for polystyrene (PS) food packaging. At the “Closing the Loop” round table […]
Neutralization of HBCD (Flame Retardant) in "Old" EPS Insulation Materials
Background Information: 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 recycled (post-consumption) insulation materials will increase sharply in the future. The potential to return these materials to the cycle is therefore significant […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Is a polypropylene (food) cycle possible and practical?
This pilot project, as part of the realCYCLE project enabled by the Migros Pioneer Fund, is being designed and implemented jointly with stakeholders in the plastics value chain. The overarching theme of realCYCLE is to understand and align the entire value chain of plastic packaging as a closed loop. The systemic requirements and framework conditions for scalability are being investigated, and concrete opportunities are being identified to enable comprehensive and [...]
Marking Plastics – The Path to a Circular Economy?
This pilot project, as part of the realCYCLE project enabled by the Migros Pioneer Fund, is being designed and implemented jointly with stakeholders in the plastics value chain. The overarching theme of realCYCLE is to understand and align the entire value chain of plastic packaging as a closed loop. The systemic requirements and framework conditions for scalability are being investigated, and concrete opportunities are being identified to enable comprehensive and [...]
realCYCLE Project
Whether we like it or not, plastic packaging will remain an integral part of our daily lives for a long time to come. However, the enormous consumption devours raw materials and energy – and leaves behind huge mountains of waste. The realCYCLE project aims to change this. Made possible by the Migros Pioneer Fund, it aims to understand and align the entire value chain of plastic packaging as a circular economy. A prerequisite for a […]
Approval of recycled polystyrene (rPS) in applications involving food contact materials
Since the beginning of 2021, stakeholders along the entire value chain have been committed to a closed loop for polystyrene (PS) food packaging. PS exhibits a similarly low diffusion capacity to PET and therefore hardly absorbs any pollutants. In addition, PS in the field of food packaging is primarily used for dairy products such as yogurts, which facilitates the identification of food contact materials. Therefore, […]