How can we successfully transition from a wasteful society to a functioning circular economy? This question was the focus of the panel discussion “Moving Away from a Wasteful Society: Europe’s Strategy for an Effective Circular Economy” at the BFI University of Applied Sciences in Vienna.
Together with representatives from academia, EU policy circles, environmental organizations, and the business community, Thomas Glatz, speaking on behalf of Interzero Austria, discussed the framework conditions companies need to ensure that the circular economy is not merely stated as a goal but is effectively implemented in practice.
The discussion centered on several key topics: clear and reliable regulatory guidelines, investment security, innovation, fair competition, and the question of how used products and Packaging can be transformed back into high-quality raw materials. After all, the circular economy has long been more than just an environmental issue. It is also a key factor for security of supply, competitiveness, and regional development in Europe.
One thing became clear: The direction has been set; now it’s all about implementation. Effective material cycles do not result from individual measures, but rather from the interplay of product design, collection, sorting, recovery, technology, and demand for recycled materials. This requires companies that invest, policies that create practical framework conditions, and markets that actually use secondary raw materials.
For Interzero, this dialogue is particularly relevant because we put the circular economy into practice every day—from recycling solutions to waste management to the return of recyclable materials into new material cycles.
👉 You can find more details about the event on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7472634828555927552
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About Interzero:
Interzero is one of the leading service providers in the field of closing product, material, and logistics loops, as well as an innovation leader in plastics recycling with the largest sorting capacity in Europe. Guided by the principle of “zero waste solutions,” the company supports over 80,000 customers across Europe in the responsible management of recyclable materials, thereby helping them improve their own sustainability performance and conserve primary resources. With approximately 2,000 employees, the company generates revenue of over one billion euros (2021). According to Fraunhofer UMSICHT, Interzero’s recycling activities saved 1.04 million metric tons of greenhouse gases and 8.09 million metric tons of primary raw materials in 2024 alone, compared to primary production. As a pioneer in the circular economy, Interzero is the recipient of the 2024 German Sustainability Award as well as the associated special prize in the “Resources” transformation category. For more information, visit www.interzero.at.
Find out more in our current brochure on ” resources SAVED by recycling “
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