Resource use and circular economy

ESRS E5-1 – Policies related to resource use and circular economy

Interzero is working towards a world without waste, in which raw materials are managed systematically in the loop and resources are never wasted. The company works closely with its customers, employees and partners to develop new solutions for a full-scale circular economy. In accordance with the EU’s waste hierarchy, the company’s business model is oriented towards optimum waste prevention, reduction and recycling. To achieve these goals, Interzero develops digital strategies and made-to-measure solutions aimed at extending the useful life of various materials, and enabling their use as recycled raw materials in new, sustainable products. As an innovation leader in plastics recycling, the company combines every circular process and technology – from intelligent collection/recycling systems and high-tech sorting to the production of climate-friendly recyclates and product applications.

Interzero believes an integrated approach is needed to handle resources sustainably, and this view is central to the strategy of all of the company’s business units. A wide variety of services have been developed in response to the various material streams, market requirements and regulatory standards. The following section discusses some examples of strategies for handling relevant resource inflows, usages and outflows.

Resource inflows (collection and treatment of waste)

• EPR/licensing business: 
  The EU has introduced extended producer responsibility (EPR) with the aim of minimising the environmental impact of products and packaging across their entire lifecycles – from the design stage to take-back after use and recycling. For manufacturers and distributors of packaging and electrical/electronic equipment, Interzero offers a range of targeted services that help these companies to fulfil their legal obligations in relation to licensing, take-back and closed-loop management.
  • The Interzero Recycling Alliance is a dual system that ensures the legally compliant management of sales packaging waste on behalf of customers. Services provided by this system cover the licensing, take-back and recycling of packaging materials. In the sorting facilities operated by Interzero, packaging waste from household waste collections (yellow bin) is processed for further downstream treatment. Similar packaging licensing services are also available in other countries.
  • Interzero’s take-back system for transport packaging has been one of the market leaders for over 30 years. Manufacturers can license their transport packaging with Interzero and the company then handles the legally compliant management and recycling of the waste.
  • Interzero’s services for WEEE (Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment) help manufacturers and distributors to fulfil their duties from the German Electrical and Electronic Equipment Act (Elektro- und Elektronikgerätegesetz – ElektroG). These services also comprise the take-back and eco-friendly management of waste electrical/electronic equipment.
• Single-use deposit system/clearing
  • Interzero provides beverage makers and retailers with integrated services for the German single-use deposit system. The company organises the pickup and collection of packaging in the single-use deposit system, and also handles documented payment and settlement (deposit clearing). Once sorted, these single-use containers – aluminium cans and plastic bottles, etc. – are valuable input for recycling.
• Collection and waste management
  • From manufacturing to retail, the skilled trades and healthcare, Interzero develops industry-specific, made-to-measure collection and waste management systems for a wide variety of material streams. This portfolio of services helps to avoid waste, improve waste management processes on business premises and increase the volume of raw materials managed within high-quality recycling loops.
• Purchase of used IT equipment/servers
  • IT and communications equipment contains valuable raw materials. Interzero purchases old and discarded equipment from businesses, and manages the entire refurbishment process. These PCs, smartphones, tablets, monitors, servers and network equipment can then be reused or – if this is no longer possible – recycled to professional standards.

Resource outflows (products and services)

• Production and sale of secondary raw materials
  • Turning waste into resources: Interzero manufactures plastic regranulates in its three company-owned recycling facilities. Sorted waste from household waste collections is processed here into materials such as the award-winning recompound procyclen, which can also be modified in accordance with customer specifications. Procyclen is marketed to manufacturers, who use it to make a wide variety of products – from shipping crates to designer chairs. Studies from Fraunhofer UMSICHT show that companies using these recycled plastics in their production processes can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 50 per cent compared with new plastics based on fossil oil.
• Consulting services for circular-ready packaging
  • In light of tougher EU regulations, many manufacturers are now facing the challenge of making their packaging more recyclable. Interzero’s suite of ‘Made for Recycling’ services helps these businesses comply with their obligations under the EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), and design their packaging portfolio to be more sustainable. Alongside the scientific and internationally recognised packaging analysis service offered by the company’s own Competence Centre, ‘Made for Recycling’ also gives advice on sustainable packaging optimisation and the use of recycled materials.
• Sale of used IT equipment and printer cartridges
  • Interzero’s refurbishment activities ensure that unwanted hardware is professionally refurbished and can be remarketed after all data has been erased. The company’s online platform gebrauchte-technik.de offers refurbished equipment to customers (including consumers) at attractive prices.
  • Interzero also offers a range of tailor-made services – covering collection, purchase, sorting and remarketing – for empty and reusable printer ink and toner cartridges. Interzero also runs a long-standing ‘Eco Dragon’ campaign in schools and day nurseries. By providing free collection boxes for empty printer cartridges, the company helps to conserve resources while also supporting environmental education.

Handling of company resources/waste

The range of services offered by Interzero helps to avoid waste while continuing to move a variety of (waste) material streams into closed-loop management. The company also takes a responsible-minded approach to its own waste. All sites with an ISO 14001 environmental management system in place are obliged to keep improving their environmental performance. 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 internal and external audits.

The Interzero Plastics Sorting GmbH sorting plants and production facilities in Oberhausen, Melle, Liebenau 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 (see also ESRS E2-1/E2-2).

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.

Before essential replacements of machinery or plant, the company reviews options for the cost-effective refurbishment of worn items. One approach here is to establish systems whereby machinery at various company locations can be included in a manufacturer’s rolling refurbishment programme; as a result, only the machine’s worn parts need to be replaced.

ESRS E5-2 – Actions and resources in relation to resource use and circular economy

Interzero continues to work on new solutions capable of expanding the circular economy. In this context, Interzero implemented various measures in 2023 and 2024, ranging from developing digital strategies to investing in new technologies, establishing partnerships, and expanding its portfolio of services.

Collection and treatment of waste

• Investments in sorting facilities 
  Interzero continues to invest in technological improvements and innovations with the aim of improving the quality and efficiency of recyclable sorting, and producing high-quality, competitive secondary raw materials for an ever-wider spectrum of applications. One example of such a technology is near-infrared (NIR), whereby NIR cameras scan conveyor belts and identify the various plastic fractions in the blink of an eye. Once identified, a stream of air is then applied to separate the various materials, sorting them into mono-material fractions of at least 90 per cent purity.
• IBaS acquisition
  In 2023, Interzero acquired BRAMIN GmbH, a specialised baling press distributor, which was renamed Interzero Baler Solutions GmbH (IBaS) on 1 May 2024. Baling presses make it possible for companies to reduce the volume of packaging waste like cardboard or polystyrene by up to 90 per cent directly on their own premises. Apart from saving space, costs and resources, this also reduces the need for logistics services and minimises carbon emissions from truck shipments.
• Materialkonto
  In 2024, Interzero launched ‘Materialkonto’ – its digital twin service for raw materials management that aims to ensure the transparent management and documentation of recycling loops. Companies can manage their recyclables in the loop while gaining access to a pool of recycled raw materials. They can thus reduce their use of primary resources and avoid supply bottlenecks while enjoying independence from market price changes for the quantities managed in the loop.
• Resourcify
  In 2023, Interzero started a comprehensive collaboration with Resourcify, a digital platform for waste management and recycling. One result of this is the Zero Waste Manager, an integrated digital solution that helps Interzero’s customers to organise their waste management more efficiently. The data analyses provided by the platform give companies an overview of their options for reducing waste, improving recycling rates and closing resource loops.
• Screening of new country markets 
  Digitalisation and internationalisation both play important roles within the company’s overall strategy. Interzero is having a close look at opportunities for setting up recycling infrastructure in other countries and improving resource efficiency with international partnerships.
• Tech Cycle joint venture
  In 2023, Interzero and GlobeCom formed Interzero Tech Cycle GmbH as a joint venture. The new company’s business model is based on giving phased-out business server and network equipment a second life and therefore saving valuable resources. This smart-selling model turns used customer hardware into an attractive revenue stream while guaranteeing maximum transparency – and so incentivising large-scale refurbishment.

Production and sale of secondary raw materials

• New PET recycling plant
  In 2023, Interzero opened a new PET recycling plant in Liebenau, Germany. This plant uses advanced processes and state-of-the-art technology to transform shredded deposit bottles into food-grade granulate for the beverage industry. With an annual capacity of 12,000 tonnes, the plant makes an important contribution to closing the bottle-to-bottle loop, and therefore reducing carbon emissions and conserving resources.
• Coveris partnership
  In summer 2024, Interzero and packaging manufacturer Coveris signed a strategic partnership aimed at further closing the loop for plastics. The films collected and processed by Interzero are used in the Coveris plants to produce recyclates and, in turn, new and sustainable packaging.
• High-density polyethylene (HDPE) for bottle production
  In 2023, Interzero developed and subsequently filed a patent for a novel mechanical recycling method that enables the production of blow mould products from 100 per cent lightweight packaging material (i.e. post-consumer recycled plastics, PCR). These PCR material streams were previously only suitable for use in extrusion methods. This technical innovation offers new and sustainable options for PCR in plastic bottle applications.

Consulting services for packaging recyclability

• Packaging development
  The ‘Made for Recycling’ quality seal from the Interzero Recycling Alliance sets international standards for the analysis and optimisation of packaging recyclability. A new Made for Recycling service, ‘Packaging Development’, was introduced in 2024. With this service, Interzero is helping companies to identify sustainable and competitive packaging solutions for their products that not only protect the product but also meet all expectations for environmental protection and circular capabilities.
• International expansion of consulting service portfolio
  Recognising that the challenges faced by a sustainable, circular economy can only be solved by multilateral solutions, Interzero has taken a more international approach to positioning the Group and is also working to align its service portfolio with the needs of a global clientele. EPR is a good example. As a leading EPR service provider, Interzero works on behalf of its customers to identify those countries where they need to license their packaging, electrical equipment (WEEE), batteries and textiles. If required, Interzero also handles the operational aspects of meeting EPR obligations for its customers in the respective countries.
• Seminars and workshops
  Targeted know-how transfer is an important factor for the success of a well-functioning closed-loop economy. During the reporting period, Interzero therefore expanded its activities in this area, which included offering online and in-person seminars and workshops on the topic of packaging design, recycling and legal requirements. In 2024, Interzero also organised a roadshow on the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) aimed at providing affected companies with information about the new legal requirements and highlighting potential solutions.

Refurbishment of used products

• Interzero ReBox: Collecting machine for smartphones
  In 2024, Interzero worked with technology start-up GET-RE to develop ‘ReBox’: an AI-powered solution for purchasing used smartphones. The ReBox can be set up in a store, where it simplifies the take-back process for old consumer devices. In just a few steps, customers can use the AI scanner to find out the value of their used smartphone and are issued with a corresponding voucher that can be redeemed in the same store. The devices collected are then refurbished for resale or recycled. In this way, ReBox has the potential to make a major contribution to conserving primary resources and supporting climate change mitigation.
• Multi-use deposit systems
  Multi-use deposit systems help to avoid waste and therefore conserve resources. In early 2023, Interzero worked with Berlin start-up Sykell to roll out the ‘READY TO RETURN’ system in REWE markets throughout Germany. Our partner Sykell designed reusable containers that are compatible with standard reverse vending machines, while Interzero handles all of the logistics, as well as container cleaning and recycling.

Handling of company resources/waste

In addition, Interzero also educates its employees on how to avoid the production of waste. If employees at any of the sites have questions about the handling of hazardous waste, they can contact the Interzero hazardous materials officer. All sites with an ISO 14001 environmental management system in place are obliged to keep improving their environmental performance. 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 internal and external audits.

ESRS E5-3 – Targets related to resource use and circular economy

As a whole, the Interzero business model is predicated on avoiding waste, closing loops and conserving resources. Within the organisation, the Circular Solutions division targets the avoidance of waste while the Plastics Recycling division focuses on closing material loops. Interzero combines both with the dual system to help other companies take responsibility for protecting resources. Interzero wants its solutions to contribute to saving at least 5.5 million tonnes of resources every year.

Both of these targets were again met in 2024 (see Sustainability programme). Meeting these targets also requires internal processes to be focussed on sustainability. This includes the continuous reduction of our own carbon footprint, being an attractive employer and raising society's awareness of the concept of the closed-loop economy.

In 2025, new data on product carbon footprints will also be collected for the recyclates portfolio, for example, to improve the data basis for subsequent years and identify potential optimisation opportunities.

In recent years, a trend towards the reduction of waste volumes generated has been observed. Comparatively high waste volumes during the COVID-19 pandemic were followed by a decline in total lightweight packaging waste from 2023 onwards. Demand for plastics in general also remained flat, which resulted in reductions to production quantities at many processing sites within the recycling industry. This situation ultimately reduced the volumes of waste at the processing sites themselves.

The high volume and rate of unrecycled waste stems from the production facility in Eisenhüttenstadt, where Interzero processes plastic waste from the dual system (yellow bin) into raw materials for manufacturers. As part of this production process, plastic waste is washed before being melted down. The impurities filtered out of the water during multiple process steps cannot be recycled and must therefore be sent for incineration.

As regards hazardous waste, Interzero does not hold a permit for the collection, transport, storage, treatment, recycling or remediation of hazardous waste at any of its sites. When considering premises as waste producers, maintenance work at Group companies does generate very small volumes of hazardous waste, including used oil and oil cloths during oil changes, vehicle batteries, etc.

All of Interzero’s sites record their annual waste volumes. The volumes accounted for in Interzero's waste balance are wastes that are produced by the company as a waste producer at its own sites. At production sites, weighing data are used as well as billing data from waste management and recycling firms. Estimates are made at office locations lacking weighing data.

Waste streams

More than 93 per cent of the organisation’s overall waste for 2023 and 2024 result from just three waste streams. The sludge created by the washing of plastic waste must be dried and then incinerated. In the treatment process for kraft paper sacks, residual materials from the construction industry, chemical industry and food/feed industry are either sent for landfill or also used in a waste-to-energy facility. Wooden debris from faulty wooden pallets is sent for recycling.