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Equality begins in everyday business life—in career opportunities, leadership decisions, and fair compensation. Interzero Austria therefore participated in the subsidized consulting program “100 Percent – Equality Pays Off” to scrutinize existing processes and further advance equal opportunity within the company.

Transparent Structures and Informed Decisions

Job families and job levels were developed through a series of workshops. They are intended to make job roles more comparable and to create a transparent basis for salary and career development decisions.

Another key focus was unconscious bias —recognizing unconscious prejudices that can play a role, for example, in HR and leadership decisions. The workshops helped participants reflect on existing thought patterns and raised their awareness of the importance of making fair decisions.

Gender Equality by the Numbers

Interzero Austria currently employs 54 people, 47% of whom are women. Women account for 44% of leadership positions.

Ensuring Gender Equality in the Long Term

The insights gained through this program will be incorporated into future human resources and organizational development efforts. The focus is on transparent structures, transparent decision-making, and fair career development opportunities for all employees.

By participating in the program, Interzero is helping to foster an understanding of equal opportunity not as a one-time project, but as an ongoing aspect of corporate culture.

Austria must transpose the new EU requirements on extended producer responsibility (EPR) for textiles into national law by June 17, 2027. Manufacturers, importers, and retailers who place affected textiles on the market for the first time will, among other things, be required to contribute to the financing of collection, sorting, and recycling. Details regarding the Austrian implementation are still to be determined.

Engaging with the Austrian Fashion Industry

The Salzburg Talks on October 20, 2026, provided Interzero Austria with a valuable opportunity to engage with decision-makers from the domestic fashion industry.

The industry gathering focused on digitalization and the future of the fashion retail sector. Interzero took advantage of the opportunity for face-to-face interaction to raise awareness of the upcoming textile EPR obligations and to establish new contacts.

Three Questions for Thomas Glatz, Country Manager at Interzero Austria

Why is textile EPR relevant for Austria right now?

The new requirements have been finalized. Many companies have barely begun to address them. We want to raise awareness early on and show that preparations should begin now.

What will be the biggest challenge?

To establish a workable system that takes existing collection structures into account and establishes clear responsibilities and transparent costs.

What can companies do right now?

Identify affected products and quantities, clarify internal responsibilities, and monitor further developments. Interzero helps companies understand the upcoming requirements and prepare for them.

Further Information

To learn about the challenges and potential solutions associated with textile EPR, read our Interzero white paper on extended producer responsibility for textiles.

Do you have questions about textile EPR? Our Zero Waste Solutions Team will be happy to advise you: zerowaste@interzero.at

Those who systematically organize their waste management can achieve more than simply meeting legal requirements. Especially in companies with multiple locations—such as those in retail or the hospitality industry—it’s worth taking a closer look at collection systems, disposal methods, and ongoing costs.

Legal Obligation Meets Economic Potential

According to Section 11 of the Waste Management Act (AWG) 2002, businesses with more than 100 employees must appoint a professionally qualified individual as a waste management officer. Their duties include providing advice and oversight on waste management issues, conducting site inspections, and assisting with waste management plans. Legal responsibility remains with the business owner.

Interzero combines this expert guidance with an analysis of a company’s waste management practices: Where can transportation be eliminated, recyclables be better sorted, or collection and compaction systems be improved?

Case Study: Centershop

As Centershop expanded in Austria, Interzero helped reorganize its waste streams. Through coordinated collection and compaction solutions, the company was able to reduce transportation, make better use of space, and lower disposal costs. This example illustrates the economic opportunities that lie in a well-planned waste management system.

More about our partnership with Centershop

Nine specialists, one contact person

Interzero now has nine trained waste management officers . Companies benefit from a dedicated contact person, consistent representation, and experience from various industries. In addition to ensuring compliance with waste management regulations, the team helps identify concrete opportunities for improvement.

For more information about our services, please visit the Waste Management section. To learn about the legal obligations that apply to companies and how an external waste management officer can help ensure legal compliance, read our article “External Waste Management Officer: Ensuring Legal Compliance, Reducing Liability Risks.”

Would you like to find out whether your business needs a waste management officer or where there is potential for cost savings? Schedule a no-obligation consultation: rsi.austria@interzero.at.

With the EU Packaging Regulation (PPWR), recyclability, material composition, and the use of recycled materials are becoming increasingly important. Manufacturers and retailers are faced with the question of how to evaluate existing packaging and make targeted improvements.

At the Interzero Plastics Innovations Competence Center in Lenart near Maribor, we combine research with practical materials testing and development. A technical facility for pilot-scale process testing and two analytical laboratories ensure the chemical, physical, mechanical, and thermal characterization of plastics. Tests conducted within the accredited scope are performed in accordance with DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025:2018.

The range of services extends from packaging analyses and recyclability assessments to customized recycled material formulations and the testing of recycling processes. This provides companies with a technical foundation for making material decisions, identifying opportunities for optimization, and evaluating new applications for recycled plastics.

One example is a patented mechanical process used to recycle HDPE from used lightweight packaging for new applications, such as bottles for laundry detergents and cleaning products.

For our licensing clients, this expertise opens up additional opportunities: Beyond ensuring compliance with legal requirements, we assist them with questions regarding recyclability and packaging optimization.

Would you like to learn more?

Discover the Center of Excellence for Recycled Plastics in Lenart near Maribor and learn more about the latest developments in plastics recycling in an interview with Dr. Manica Ulcnik-Krump.

Would you like to know how you can improve the recyclability of your packaging, make targeted use of recycled plastics, or prepare for the requirements of the PPWR? Our experts will be happy to advise you: zerowaste@interzero.at

Efficient waste management is increasingly starting with the smart management of collection and emptying processes. With Mr. Fill , Interzero is now offering a solution in Austria that addresses exactly this need.

The product portfolio includes solar-powered waste containers with built-in compaction systems and digital fill-level sensors. Compacting the waste allows for more efficient use of the container’s available volume. At the same time, fill-level data enables more needs-based planning of emptying and collection routes.

This offers several benefits for cities, municipalities, infrastructure operators, and businesses: fewer unnecessary collections, more efficient route planning, reduced logistical effort, and a cleaner environment thanks to closed-loop systems.

These solutions complement Interzero’s existing waste management offerings and combine operational waste management with digital control. The goal is to make processes more efficient, make better use of resources, and put the circular economy into practice in day-to-day waste management.

With the exclusive distribution of Mr. Fill in Austria, Interzero is expanding its portfolio to include yet another technology for modern, data-driven waste management

Would you like to learn how Mr. Fill can be used in your organization?

For further information and individual advice, please contact us at shop.austria@interzero.at .

The European Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) significantly increases the requirements for companies. In addition to recyclability, labeling, EPR, and technical documentation, companies must also adapt their responsibilities, processes, and data structures accordingly.

This is exactly where the collaboration between Interzero and Future Response comes in. The two partners combine operational expertise in packaging and compliance with experience in organizational transformation.

Interzero supports companies in the practical implementation of these processes—from EPR registration and licensing, through recyclability assessments and laboratory analyses, to recycled material solutions and the preparation of technical documentation.

Future Response complements these services by adding an organizational perspective. Among other things, the focus is on roles and responsibilities, governance structures, processes, and the necessary data and IT infrastructure. The goal is not only to meet regulatory requirements on a case-by-case basis, but to embed them permanently within the company.

For companies, this results in an integrated approach: First, an analysis is conducted to determine which areas, Packaging, and processes are affected by the PPWR. Building on this, specific work packages can be defined and implemented step by step—from packaging and data to organizational and compliance processes.

The advantage: Technical requirements and internal implementation are not considered separately. This provides companies with a structured foundation for efficiently establishing and ensuring long-term PPWR compliance.

Would you like to learn more about the joint PPWR offering from Interzero and Future Response? For detailed information and a personalized consultation, please contact our Zero Waste Solutions Team at zerowaste@interzero.at.

The circular economy makes a measurable contribution to climate and resource protection. For many years, Interzero has been working with Fraunhofer UMSICHT to determine the actual extent of this contribution as part of the “resources SAVED by recycling” study.

The scientific life cycle assessment compares recycling processes with manufacturing from primary raw materials and highlights the savings in resources and emissions achieved by recycling materials.

The latest results for 2025 show that by recycling approximately two million metric tons of recyclable materials, Interzero has saved more than 7.2 million metric tons of primary resources in Germany, Austria, Poland, Italy, and Slovenia. At the same time, these recycling activities prevented the emission of more than 900,000 metric tons of greenhouse gases.

The impact is particularly evident in plastics recycling: In 2025, Interzero kept approximately one million metric tons of plastics in the cycle. According to the study, the resulting savings in resources are equivalent to about three million barrels of crude oil, or roughly 9.5 million 50-liter fill-ups for passenger cars.

The results clearly show that recycling not only keeps recyclable materials in the cycle but also reduces the demand for primary raw materials and the associated environmental impacts. Especially in light of scarce raw materials and uncertain supply chains, a well-functioning circular economy is thus becoming increasingly important for companies as well.

Which waste category is the right one? Which waste code should be used? Especially when dealing with a wide variety of materials and waste streams, correctly categorizing waste in day-to-day business operations can be time-consuming.

Interzero is now offering a new digital search function for this purpose. The Waste catalog in accordance with the Austrian Waste List Regulation allows users to search specifically by the name of a waste item or by a known waste code and quickly find the corresponding waste type.

The tool thus provides practical support for companies that want to classify their waste correctly and prepare it for further disposal or recycling.

The waste catalog also makes it easier to get started when inquiring about waste disposal: Companies can identify the appropriate waste type and then provide Interzero with the relevant information regarding the type and quantity of the material. Based on this information, the next steps or a customized solution can be evaluated.

The new waste catalog thus complements Interzero’s digital waste management solutions by providing an easy-to-use tool for day-to-day operations.

Would you like to check a waste code or correctly classify a type of waste?

Use the new Interzero Waste Catalog and find the correct classification in just a few clicks.

The more locations, waste streams, disposal partners, and documents there are, the more complex operational operational waste management. The Interzero Waste Management Platform helps companies organize these processes centrally, digitally, and across all locations.

The platform consolidates relevant waste data and environmental documents in one place. It allows users to schedule pickups, manage information across multiple locations, and access important documents centrally. This reduces administrative workload and creates greater transparency in day-to-day waste management.

A key advantage lies in the structured use of existing data. Based on the collected information, customized reports and analyses can be generated—for example, regarding waste volumes, costs, and waste streams. These analyses can support management, controlling, and finance functions while also providing a data foundation for sustainability and non-financial reporting.

Operational processes can also be managed more easily through the platform. Scheduled pickups can be viewed in the calendar, and additional services can be recorded and requested as needed. For compaction machines equipped with the appropriate technology, pickup requests can also be triggered automatically.

Centralized control offers an additional advantage, especially for companies with multiple locations: processes can be standardized, and information can be consolidated across all locations. Customizable access rights make it possible to tailor usage to different tasks and responsibilities within the company.

The Interzero Waste Management Platform has a modular design and is tailored to a company’s structure, processes, and requirements. Our experts guide the implementation and provide ongoing support during use.

Anyone interested in learning more about the platform can try it out for free for up to three months as part of a trial period.

Would you like to test the Interzero Waste Management Platform in your company?

Learn more about its features and use cases, and start a free trial of up to three months if you’d like.

Below you will find the designated collection regions as well as all essential information regarding the bidding process, the schedule, and participation.

Lottery for the Collection Regions

Under the direction of the responsible federal ministry (BMLUK), Interzero was randomly assigned a total of 13 political districts on June 8, 2026, in accordance with Section 29b(8) of the AWG, based on its market share. In these regions, Interzero will be responsible for organizing the collection of lightweight and metal packaging—and, in five political districts, glass packaging as well—from January 1, 2028, through December 31, 2032.

Interzero was assigned the districts of Eisenstadt-Umgebung, Wiener Neustadt-Stadt, Hollabrunn, Urfahr-Umgebung, and Murtal for the collection of lightweight and metal packaging as well as glass packaging. In addition, Interzero was assigned the districts of Mattersburg, Klagenfurt-Land, Villach-Land, Melk, Zwettl, Linz-Land, Hartberg-Fürstenfeld, and Innsbruck-Stadt for the collection of plastic and metal packaging.

Since municipalities or municipal associations in some regions have exercised their right of entry as stipulated in the AWG, the collection of lightweight and metal packaging, as well as glass packaging, is being put out to bid in the following collection regions:

Bidding Process

The contract for packaging collection will be awarded through a negotiated procedure with prior publication in accordance with the principles of public procurement law. This does not result in the full application of the Public Procurement Act (BVergG) 2018; furthermore, the BVergG 2018 does not apply to this specific tender.

The solicitation will be conducted in accordance with the principles of free and fair competition, ensuring equal treatment of all applicants and bidders, and in compliance with the requirement of transparency. Contracts will be awarded to qualified, capable, and reliable companies at reasonable prices.

The process is divided into a participation phase (Stage 1) and a bidding phase (Stage 2) with an option for negotiation. Applications and bids will be evaluated according to the best-bidder principle. We will engage independent experts to verify and document compliance with the principles outlined above.

Schedule and Additional Information

The application period begins on September 7, 2026, and ends on October 18, 2026. The bid period is expected to begin in mid-November 2026.

The contract is expected to be awarded to the highest bidders, and the names of the highest bidders for each collection region and collection category are expected to be published in April 2027.

Further information can be found in the tender documents. The announcement and publication of the documents will take place on September 7, 2026, on the ANKÖ tender platform.

Free registration on the platform is required to view the tender documents and to submit a bid.

ANKÖ Tender Platform: https://www.vergabeportal.at

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us:

Email: ausschreibung@interzero.at

Julian Hafner
Phone: +43 660 305 502 2

Sophie Danhel
Phone: +43 664 888 012 27