Clearly proven: Closed-loop systems protect the environment.
+++ According to 2021 study data, Interzero’s closed-loop solutions save one million tons of greenhouse gas emissions and 12.5 million tons of primary resources
+++ Costs of €199 million for climate-related environmental damage are avoided
+++ Interzero presents data from the new study by the Fraunhofer Institute for Environmental, Safety and Energy Technology UMSICHT at the plastics trade fair K 2022
Berlin/Cologne. Every year, Interzero, as a leading recycling service provider in Europe, faces the question: What environmental damage do we actually avoid with the solutions we provide for our customers, and what potential savings does this result in for society?
The study published today by Fraunhofer UMSICHT “resources SAVED by recycling” once again proves the clearly positive effect. Interzero has significantly reduced the burden on the environment in 2021.
By recycling a total of 1.8 million metric tons of recyclables, Interzero was able to save approximately 12.5 million metric tons of primary resources with its customers in 2021. In addition, the emission of around one million tons of greenhouse gases was avoided. Without the use of Interzero, the cost of climate-related environmental damage would be 199 million euros (according to the Federal Environment Agency’s environmental cost calculation).
The current primary resource savings is equivalent to the weight of 5,227 mature redwood trees.
“Heat, drought, floods, epidemics and hunger – the effects of the overexploitation of nature and climate change are increasingly being felt around the world,” says Dr. Axel Schweitzer, Chairman and Shareholder of Interzero. “With the study, we take stock of our own actions every year – together with our customers and partners. With its publication, however, we also want to make it clear that the recycling of raw materials is an effective factor in counteracting the devastating impact on nature and climate change both ecologically and economically. The circular economy offers huge opportunities. We must not forget this, especially in view of the tense situation in Europe and the associated rise in energy prices.”
The detailed results of the current study will be presented for the first time at K 2022 in Düsseldorf from October 19 to 26. At the world’s largest plastics trade fair, the experts from Interzero Plastics Recycling not only present innovative technologies and services for plastics recycling. They also explain the environmental benefits of recycling over primary production. Scientists at the Fraunhofer Institute have calculated this: The use of the recycled plastic Procyclen produced by Interzero saves 56 percent of climate-damaging emissions compared to primary plastics made from crude oil.
In order to scientifically investigate the savings effects of its own closed-loop activities, Interzero has been working with the Fraunhofer Institute UMSICHT for years.
The scientists’ calculations also provide the basis for a current communication campaign. Under the motto “One World. Zero Waste. Let’s #MoveTheDate”, Interzero is focusing on the conservation of natural resources. After all, according to the calculations of the Global Footprint Network, Interzero returns 10 times more regenerative capacity to the earth for one euro of added value than is taken away from it per euro by the global community. Expressed in time units, Interzero shifts the global Earth Overshoot Day, which was already reached on July 28 in 2022, by 4 minutes and 20 seconds, and in terms of Germany it occurs 2 hours and 20 minutes later.
“At first glance, the minute and hourly values do not seem particularly large. But they show that we as a medium-sized company are also making a difference globally with our actions, and they are a good incentive for our further work. We want to move our entire environment to make contributions to sustainable circular economy and thus stop the increasing exploitation of our planet,” says Dr. Axel Schweitzer.
More information on the study: interzero.at/resources-saved and here to the accompanying video.
