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Die EU Verpackungs- und Verpackungsabfallverordnungg PPWR in der Industriestrategie

Mit der EU Verpackungs- und Verpackungsabfallverordnung PPWR, veröffentlicht im Jänner 2025, gilt erstmals ein europaweit einheitlicher Rechtsrahmen für Verpackungen. Die Verordnung ist unmittelbar in allen EU Mitgliedstaaten anzuwenden und definiert verbindliche Ziele zur Reduktion von Verpackungsabfällen. Vorgesehen sind mindestens 5 Prozent bis 2030, 10 Prozent bis 2035 und 15 Prozent bis 2040. Damit betrifft die PPWR die gesamte Verpackungswertschöpfungskette.

Vor diesem Hintergrund gewinnt Kreislaufwirtschaft auch strategisch an Bedeutung. Die aktuelle Industriestrategie unterstreicht, dass Ressourcensicherheit, Wettbewerbsfähigkeit und langfristige Planungssicherheit für Unternehmen zunehmend zusammen gedacht werden müssen. Regulatorische Anforderungen werden damit zu einem integralen Bestandteil unternehmerischer Entscheidungen.

Interzero Whitepaper “Verpackung und Nachhaltigkeit”

Das Whitepaper Verpackung und Nachhaltigkeit ordnet diese neuen Anforderungen strukturiert ein. Es zeigt, welche Unternehmen in welcher Rolle betroffen sind und welche Maßnahmen in den kommenden Jahren relevant werden. Ergänzt wird dies durch Praxisdaten und Einblicke, wie Unternehmen bereits heute reagieren, etwa durch den Einsatz von Recyclingmaterialien, die Reduktion nicht nachhaltiger Komponenten oder ein recyclinggerechtes Verpackungsdesign.

Ein zentrales Fazit: Nachhaltige Verpackungen sind nicht mehr nur eine regulatorische Pflicht, sondern ein strategisches Handlungsfeld. Viele Unternehmen setzen bereits mehrere Maßnahmen parallel um. Gleichzeitig besteht weiterhin Bedarf an Orientierung, um Anforderungen sinnvoll zu priorisieren und in eine klare Strategie zu überführen.

Das Whitepaper richtet sich an Unternehmen, die ihre Rolle im Kontext der PPWR besser verstehen und fundierte Entscheidungen für die kommenden Jahre treffen möchten. Interzero Austria unterstützt Unternehmen dabei mit einem strukturierten Ansatz, regulatorische Anforderungen einzuordnen und frühzeitig Handlungsfelder sichtbar zu machen als Grundlage für langfristig wettbewerbsfähige und regelkonforme Verpackungslösungen.

Effects of the new collection on recycling: the potential of the Yellow Bag

Since January 1, 2025, plastic and metal packaging in Austria has been collected uniformly in the Yellow Bag or Yellow Bin. The aim of the changeover was to simplify handling for households and improve the conditions for high-quality sorting. Today, modern sorting technologies make it possible to precisely separate the different material streams and make them usable for recycling. Feedback from the public shows that The joint collection is widely accepted and perceived as practicable.

In parallel to the new joint collection, the one-way deposit for plastic drinks bottles and cans was also introduced at the start of 2025. Since then, this packaging has been collected via a separate take-back system and is no longer collected via the Yellow Bag.

Deposit system shifts collection of Packaging

This simultaneous changeover will have a visible impact on collection volumes: For the transition year 2025, Interzero Austria expects a decline of around 7% in packaging collected in the Yellow Bag or Yellow Bin. While 231,000 tons were still collected in 2024, the current projection for 2025 is 214,000 tons. The decline is a direct result of the shift of certain packaging to the deposit system, not a reduction in collection behavior.

This development is relevant for companies for two reasons: Firstly, clean, comprehensive collection improves the quality of the recyclates available. Secondly, it becomes clear that the circular economy does not end with collection. The decisive factor is what happens afterwards – in other words, how the recovered materials can be fed back into suitable applications. This is precisely where Interzero comes in: with a holistic approach from collection and sorting to specific applications in new products.

An international case study from the cosmetics industry shows just how efficient and versatile recycled plasticsfrom the Yellow Bag can be today. Together with Interzero, La Biosthétique has developed packaging made from post-consumer recyclate that meets the highest quality and safety requirements. The example illustrates the potential of the correct use of collected materials and how the circular economy can work in practice.

On January 21, 2026, Interzero Austria was once again recognized as a leading company as part of the Leading Companies Austria annual launch event at Vienna Airport. The recertification confirms companies that combine sustainable corporate success with responsibility towards society and the environment.

The award is presented by Leitbetriebe Austria and recognizes companies that combine economic stability, innovative strength and sustainable action in the long term. The official presentation of the certificate was made by Monika Rintersbacher, Managing Director of Leitbetriebe Austria.

For Interzero, recertification is both a recognition and an obligation. As a leading, owner-managed environmental service provider with over 30 years of experience, Interzero supports companies throughout Europe on the path to a circular economy: with integrated solutions ranging from packaging licensing and take-back systems to recycling and closed-loop logistics along the entire material cycle. The aim is to combine ecological responsibility and economic efficiency and to translate regulatory requirements into practicable solutions.

With the renewed award as a leading company, Interzero Austria is pleased to start the year 2026 with a clear commitment to sustainable management and to continue to actively contribute its own experience to the exchange with other companies that act responsibly.

A new year means new goals – why not implement a resolution that will pay off for your company in more ways than one? With a clean and safe warehouse, optimized work processes and efficient disposal, you not only save time and money, but also make an active contribution to climate protection.

How does it work?
Through the use of Orwak recyclable material presses and Heger EPS compactors you can reduce transport journeys by up to 90% and reclaim valuable storage space. Less transportation means fewer CO₂ emissions – a clear plus for your sustainability balance sheet. At the same time, you save up to 16 working hours per tonne of recyclables compared to conventional outdoor container disposal.

Your advantage:

• More space: Free storage space for your core processes
• More security: Order reduces risks
• More efficiency: Optimized processes save time and costs
• More sustainability: Less transportation, fewer emissions

Interzero is your ideal partner: With a wide range of recyclable material presses and compactors from the manufacturers ORWAK AB and Heger we offer everything from a single source – from delivery to maintenance and repair.

With more than 90 stores and around 1,000 employees, the medium-sized, owner-managed retail company CENTERSHOP has successfully established itself as a local supplier and seasonal goods specialist in Germany over the past 25 years and continues to pursue a consistent growth strategy. CENTERSHOP has also been present in Austria with its unique concept since 2025: the first store opened in Parndorf, followed by the second Austrian location in Liezen in November. The claim was clearly formulated – a partner who can handle all environmental and recycling issues reliably, legally and reliably.and uncomplicated. Interzero accompanies this entry as an exclusive all-in-one service provider.

1. waste management – full flexibility for the store launch

The situation was particularly challenging during the opening phase: high delivery volumes, ongoing conversions, taking over existing waste structures and an extremely wide range of products – from cardboard to film, organic waste and plants to electrical appliances. Thanks to its comprehensive service portfolio, Interzero was able to react flexibly and solve new requirements on a daily basis.
Martin Reischl, Managing Director Centershop Austria: “There is so much to do around a new opening – it was a great relief to be able to have any waste disposed of spontaneously by a partner in an uncomplicated way with just one phone call.”

2. orwak 3420 – efficient use of space, costs and recyclable materials

The integration of the Orwak 3420 presses brought immediately visible effects: significantly less volume, fewer transports, free storage space and additional revenue from pressed cardboard and film fractions. The machines are now an integral part of every new branch.
Santino Schreiner, Key Account Manager: “Space is always an issue in retail and wholesale. With the Orwak 3420, we help our customers to save space and staff time in their stores.”

3 EPR licensing – one process for 30,000 products

With over 30,000 items and a seasonally changing product range, EPR licensing is particularly challenging for CENTERSHOP. Interzero ensures legal compliance and minimal effort by using individual weighing solutions, packaging data management systems and a structured reporting process.
Martin Reischl, Managing Director of Centershop Austria: “I am glad that I also have a partner for the topic of the EPR obligation who supports me with legal certainty and provides me with advice and assistance.”

“Our vision is a world without waste – a liveable, sustainable world for current and future generations.“ With this guiding principle Dr. Axel SchweitzerChairman and shareholder, explains Interzero’s claim to reliably support companies on their path to the circular economy. This clear focus characterizes all business areas and forms the basis for solutions that will relieve companies in 2026 in the face of increasing regulatory requirements and growing efficiency pressure.

Building on this Thomas GlatzManaging Director of Interzero Austria, shows how this vision is reflected in customer-oriented services: “Our aim is to provide customers with tangible support along their entire value chain and to open up sustainable, economical routes into the cycle. ”

The broad European network and over 30 years of experience enable Interzero to provide companies with holistic to accompany

– from EPR licensing and digital platform solutions to efficient machines and innovative recycling and recovery methods. Licensing in particular remains a central component of compliance support and is supplemented by individual advice and data-based processes. Interzero offers one of the most comprehensive solutions on the market – with legal compliance, monitoring and individual advice for Packaging, batteries, electrical appliances and textiles.

The voices of the team of experts show how closely the individual services are interlinked:

Integrated zero-waste solution with Interzero

This makes it clear that Interzero not only provides individual services such as licensing or machine solutions. The added value comes from the One–Stop-store approachwhich combines all the building blocks – compliance, digitalization, disposal, machines and recycling – into an integrated zero-waste-solution. Precise, practical and tailored to the requirements of modern companies.

Austria has the potential to play a pioneering role throughout Europe in the transformation to a circular economy – provided the right measures are taken now. With this in mind, a high-profile delegation from business, science and NGOs presented Federal Minister Norbert Totschnig (BMLUK) with a comprehensive catalog of concrete implementation proposals.

The initiative was launched by Reinhard Backhausen, Vice President of the Austrian Trade Association (ÖGV). The aim is to provide companies with practical support in switching to circular processes, conserving resources, keeping raw materials in the cycle for longer – and thus strengthening Austria’s competitiveness as a business location.

Interzero on board

Interzero was also present with Managing Director Thomas Glatz represented. Together with representatives from companies such as Billa, Coca-Cola, Red Bull, IKEA and Siemens, a close alliance was sought with politicians. Minister Totschnig signaled his openness to close cooperation and emphasized that existing funding opportunities and initiatives should be made even more visible in the future.

Key requirements for the circular economy from the catalog of measures:

• Reduction of regulatory hurdles, particularly in waste legislation
• Stronger demand for circular products through public procurement
• Development of a cross-border secondary raw materials market
• New information and training opportunities – especially for SMEs
• Fiscal incentives for companies with circular business models

A strong signal for the future.

The delegation made it clear that Austria’s economy is ready to actively shape change. The task now is to take bold steps together with the administration and politicians.

Securing the future through a circular economy: Recycling is an effective lever for reducing earth pollution and achieving the European climate neutrality targets. Together with customers and partners, Interzero is therefore already developing successful business models for the circular economy of tomorrow. But how can we get even more companies to join in? How can we continue to drive forward the sustainable transformation together?  

Plastic recycling is particularly effective. Plastics and lightweight packaging account for almost half of the recycled materials – they make up 54% of the resource savings and 62% of the CO₂ reduction.

Would you like to know how much CO₂ and resources your company can save with a smart circular economy?

Read the complete analysis online now: Current Resources SAVED Study

Download the compact summary as PDF: PDF Resources SAVED Study

If you want to ensure security of supply, price stability and compliance, you need to make strategic preparations now. This is because the PPWR packaging regulation is changing the rules of the game: From 2030, binding minimum use quotas for PCR in Packaging will apply – between 10% and 35%, depending on the application. This sounds good, but in practice it puts companies under pressure. Because high-quality PCR – especially for food contact or technical packaging – is already in short supply. Demand is increasing, supply is lagging behind.

White paper shows: Massive supply gap for recycled plastics by 2030 – growing pressure for companies to act

Our latest white paper, which we commissioned from the consulting company BP, illustrates the scale of the challenge:
Even with optimistic market developments, the demand for PCR will significantly exceed the available supply. In the area of food-grade plastics alone, there will be a supply gap of over one million tons by 2030. This applies in particular to polypropylene and multilayer materials, for which recycling is technically challenging and cost-intensive.

For companies, this means that if they want to be compliant, competitive and stable on the market in 2030, they will have to act by 2025 at the latest – with a long-term strategy and concrete investments in recyclable packaging, stable partnerships in the supply chain and secure access to high-quality recyclate. The recyclability of your own packaging solutions will become a decisive competitive factor.

Interzero supports you in this – with sound advice, targeted analysis and in-depth expertise in material flow management.