It's hard to imagine modern life without plastics. In Switzerland in particular, there is an urgent need for action: currently, only around 8% of the plastics used are recycled - the majority are incinerated. Yet material recycling offers enormous potential for conserving resources and reducing CO₂ emissions.
However, the Swiss plastic waste industry faces structural challenges: low collection volumes, a large number of different types of polymer and small individual fractions make economic recycling difficult. As a result, efficient recycling capacities have not yet been established.
A new project aims to change this: On behalf of InnoPlastics AG and in collaboration with realcycle and the Institute of Technology Management (ITEM-HSG) at the University of St. Gallen - made possible by the Innovation Booster - an all-in-one recycling solution is being developed that can process several types of plastic in series on a single extrusion line. The focus is on decontamination and extrusion to ensure the highest quality even with small fractions. In addition to technical feasibility, the economic viability and future changes in waste composition are also being investigated.
The aim is to close local plastics cycles, shorten transport routes, reduce dependence on imports and at the same time strengthen Switzerland's innovative power. This new approach is intended to establish a new standard in plastics recycling and make a significant contribution to the national sustainability goals.
This all-in-one solution has the potential to fundamentally transform plastics recycling in Switzerland in ecological, economic and technological terms.