Circular economy

GRI 201: 3-3 – Economic performance: Management of material topics

Earth Overshoot Day marks the day when humanity has used up all the natural resources Earth can provide within a year. In 2022, this happened on 28 July, with Earth Overshoot Day moving further forward each year. The Interzero business model contributes to counteracting this progressive, global trend and supports climate action and resource protection by implementing new approaches and solutions for increasing resource efficiency and expanding closed-cycle management. Pursuing the vision of a world without waste, Interzero's business model rests on two pillars: circular solutions to prevent waste, and plastics recycling to close loops. Interzero combines both with the dual system to help other companies take responsibility for protecting resources. Our concrete target is to save at least 5.5 million tonnes of raw materials and avoid at least 800,000 tonnes of greenhouse gases annually with our services.

Both of these targets were again met in 2021 (see Sustainability programme). The figures for 2022 will be published in October 2023. Meeting these targets also requires internal processes to be focused on sustainability. This includes the continuous reduction of our own ecological footprint (see GRI 305), being an attractive employer (see GRI 401) and raising society's awareness of the concept of the closed-loop economy (see GRI 2-28).

GRI 203: 3-3 – Indirect economic impacts: Management of material topics

An end-to-end circular economy is crucial in the fight against climate change and resource wastage. However, this can only become a reality if governments, civil society and the economy work together on sustainable development. With its services, Interzero is actively contributing towards establishing a circular economy (see GRI 2-6). Beyond this, the company also considers its engagement for a sustainable society and social issues to be an important pillar of its corporate culture. Accordingly, the company has set itself the target of acting as an intermediary for sustainable development and actively promoting the idea of the circular economy with businesses, lawmakers and the general public.

GRI 203-1 – Infrastructure investments and services supported

Interzero's business activities in 2021 were able to save some 12.5 million tonnes of primary resources and prevent the release of approximately one million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions. These were the findings of research from the Fraunhofer Institute for Environmental, Safety, and Energy Technology (UMSICHT). Interzero therefore plays a key role in supplying resources to business and society while protecting the environment and the climate.

Interzero I: 3-3 - Environmental impacts of services: Management of material topics

Interzero's core business area in particular has a positive effect on the environment. With its vision of a world without waste, Interzero is an important contributor to the development of a fully functional circular economy in which raw materials are used efficiently and retained for as long as possible within a closed loop, thereby saving not only considerable amounts of primary resources but also preventing the emission of greenhouse gas. More specifically, the company has set itself the goal of delivering services that will save at least 5.5 million tonnes of raw materials and 800,000 tonnes of greenhouse gases annually. This objective is also one of the key point of focus of the company's sustainability strategy. These performance targets are implemented and monitored annually with the cooperation of the individual departments (see GRI 203-1, Interzero I: Environmental impacts of services).

Interzero I - Environmental impacts of services

Interzero provides services that have a proven track record of helping customers save on raw materials and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This contribution was quantified in 2021 as part of an analysis carried out by the Fraunhofer Institute UMSICHT for its "resources SAVED by recycling" study, which found that Interzero's recycling activities were able to save 12.5 million tonnes of primary resources and avoid around one million tonnes of greenhouse gases in 2021. This means that Interzero significantly exceeded its annual savings targets of 5.5 million tonnes of primary resources and 800,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions. This positive result is primarily due to the expansion of our international business. The services analysed include recycling, IT equipment refurbishment, mobile counting centres, and ink and toner cartridge recycling.

As part of the "One World. Zero Waste. Let's #MoveTheDate" campaign, Interzero and its customers were also able to move Earth Overshoot Day back by 4 minutes and 20 seconds (see: GRI 2-22).

In order to make their actual savings more tangible and to encourage them to conserve resources, customers receive "resources SAVED certificates". These are based on the calculations from the annual study by the Fraunhofer Institute UMSICHT and show the savings in emissions and resources achieved by the particular customer.

GRI 306: 3-3 - Waste: Management of material topics

It goes without saying that Interzero ensures proper handling of its waste and keeps volumes as low as possible. All sites with an ISO 14001 environmental management system in place are obliged to keep improving their environmental performance (see www.interzero.de and the websites of the national companies). The environmental management officers at the sites are responsible for this. Possible opportunities for improving environmental performance are discussed at least once a year during the internal and external audits held at the ISO 14001-certified sites. The company also adopts measures designed to minimise the generation of waste and also separates recyclable waste on all of its premises. In addition, Interzero also educates its employees on how to avoid the production of waste.

GRI 306-1 - Waste generation and significant waste-related impacts

All of Interzero’s operational and administrative sites produce waste. It is generated by the operation of the company’s business processes and consumption by its employees. The waste is collected and separated on site and then sent for recycling. The various services provided for customers are responsible for disposing of significantly greater volumes of waste. We publish a summary of our achievements every year in the "resources SAVED by recycling" report from the Fraunhofer Institute UMSICHT.

GRI 306-2 - Management of significant waste-related impacts

The waste generated at the company’s sites is collected and separated to ensure that it is recycled correctly. Besides the separate collection of paper in the workplace, central collection points are also offered for packaging, biodegradable waste and residual waste. A minimal amount of hazardous waste is produced by Interzero’s sites, and this is disposed of separately. At the headquarters in Cologne, separate collection boxes are provided for batteries and toner cartridges. Empty hazardous goods containers are taken back by suppliers.

All of our production facilities are supported by a management system (see also GRI 2-24) and comply with legal and regulatory requirements, including those on the handling of waste. Waste management officers at each site monitor compliance with the requirements. In 2021 and 2022, no harmful substances, materials or similar were released at any of Interzero's sites.

If employees at any of the sites have questions about the handling of hazardous waste, they can contact the Interzero hazardous materials officer. The ALBA Recycling GmbH sorting plants and production facilities in Oberhausen, Melle and Eisenhüttenstadt are also certified as waste management companies (Efb). This verifies that waste materials are handled competently and in compliance with all legal regulations. Due to regulatory requirements, Interzero Circular Solutions Germany GmbH and some of its subsidiaries are also Efb-certified.

GRI 306-3 - Waste generated

In 2022, around 678 tonnes of waste were generated at Interzero’s sites. This represents a year-on-year decline of 45.4 percent versus the prior-year figure of 1,238 tonnes. A large portion of the decline relates to the Melle site, where fewer toner cartridges were returned than in the previous year, which means that in 2022 only 225 tonnes were handled instead of the previous year's 615 tonnes.

GRI 306-4 - Waste diverted from disposal

A portion of 48.7 percent of the waste generated at Interzero was sent for recycling or organic recovery (biodegradable waste). 51.3 percent went to energy recovery, which represents a reduction of about 31 percent compared to the previous year. This decline can probably also be attributed to the permanent establishment of working from home models.

GRI 306-5 - Waste directed to disposal

Non-recoverable waste is processed through an energy facility or disposed of by incineration. In 2022, 348 tonnes of this waste was generated, a decrease of about 30.5 percent compared with the previous year.