Clearly proven: cycles protect the environment.
+++ According to study data for 2021, Interzero closed loop solutions save one million tons of greenhouse gas emissions and 12.5 million tons of primary resources
+++ Costs of 199 million euros were avoided for environmental damage caused by the climate +++ Interzero presents data from a new study by the Fraunhofer Institute for Environment, Safety and Energy Technology UMSICHT at the K 2022 plastics fair
Berlin/Cologne. As the leading provider of recycling services in Europe, Interzero asks itself every year: What environmental damage are we actually avoiding with solutions for our customers and what savings potential does this bring to society?
The study published by Fraunhofer UMSICHT “RESOURCES SAVED BY RECYCLING” again proves a clearly positive effect. Interzero significantly relieved the environment in 2021.
By recycling a total of 1.8 million tons of recyclable materials, Interzero and its customers managed to save around 12.5 million tons of primary resources in 2021. year. In addition, the emission of about one million tons of greenhouse gases could be avoided. Without the use of Interzero, the costs of environmental damage caused by climate change would amount to 199 million euros (according to the environmental cost budget of the Federal Environment Agency).
The current savings in primary resources is equivalent to the weight of 5,227 mature redwoods.
“Heat, drought, floods, epidemics and hunger – the effects of overexploitation of nature and climate change are becoming more and more visible around the world,” says Dr. Axel Schweitzer, president and shareholder of Interzer. “With the help of this study, we check our own procedures every year – together with our customers and partners. By publishing them, however, we also want to make it clear that the recycling of raw materials is an effective factor in the ecological and economic opposition to destructive interventions in nature and climate change. The circular economy offers enormous opportunities. We must not forget that, especially considering the tense situation in Europe and the associated increase in energy prices.” The precise results of the current study will be presented for the first time at K 2022 from 19 until the 26th October in Düsseldorf. At the world’s largest plastics fair, experts from Interzero Plastics Recycling do not only present innovative technologies and services for plastic recycling. They also explain the environmental benefits of recycling over primary production. This is how Fraunhofer Institute scientists have calculated: the use of recycled Procyclen plastic produced by Interzero saves 56 percent of climate-damaging emissions compared to primary plastic produced from crude oil.
For years, Interzero has been collaborating with the Fraunhofer Institute UMSICHT on scientific testing of the savings effects of its own activity cycles.
The scientists’ calculations also provide the basis for the current communication campaign. Under the motto “One world. Zero Waste. Let’s #MoveTheDate”, Interzero focuses on preserving natural resources. After all, according to calculations by the Global Footprint Network, Interzero returns 10 times more regeneration capacity to the country for one euro of added value than the world community takes from it for each euro. Expressed in time units, the global Earth Overshoot Day, which is already in 2022. reached 28. July, because of Interzero, it was moved by 4 minutes and 20 seconds, and compared to Germany, it takes place 2 hours and 20 minutes later.
“At first glance, the values of minutes and hours do not seem particularly large. But they show that, as a medium-sized company, we make a difference with our activities on a global level and are a good incentive for us to continue our work. We want to move our entire environment to contribute to a sustainable circular economy and thus stop the ever-increasing exploitation of our planet,” says Dr. Axel Schweitzer.
More information about the study:
and here for the accompanying video
