Resource conservation made measurable: Interzero study proves the ecological impact of recycling
Securing the future through the circular economy: Recycling is an effective way of reducing environmental overload and achieving Europe's climate neutrality goals. Interzero is therefore developing innovative business models for tomorrow’s circular economy, together with customers and partners. But how can we encourage more companies to get involved? How can we collaborate to drive sustainable transformation? Interzero's focus is on information and education: through its study 'Resources Saved by Recycling', Europe's leading circular economy service provider regularly highlights the concrete environmental benefits of recycling.
„resources SAVED“ 2024: Heavier than 4 million SUVs
According to calculations by the Fraunhofer Institute for Environmental, Safety and Energy Technology UMSICHT, Interzero recycled around 1.94 million tonnes of recyclable materials in 2024 alone, saving 8.09 million tonnes of primary resources. This corresponds to the weight of over four million SUVs.* At the same time, Interzero's recycling activities have prevented a total of 1.04 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions. This is comparable to the CO2 emissions caused by around 3.2 million single journeys by car between Interzero's locations in Warsaw and Valencia.**
Plastic recycling as the biggest driver of savings
According to the study, plastics and lightweight packaging account for 49.9 per cent of the total amount of recyclable materials – at the same time, this waste stream is responsible for the majority of the ecological impact: Interzero achieved 54 per cent of resource savings and as much as 62 per cent of total greenhouse gas emission savings in 2024 by recycling petroleum-based materials. ‘The figures confirm our commitment to modern plastics recycling and motivate us to further improve the recycling of packaging waste from the yellow bag,’ says Jan Kroker, CEO of the Interzero Group.
Interzero postpones global Earth Overshoot Day by more than 10 minutes
Recycling works – and this is also noticeable worldwide: as calculated by the Global Footprint Network on the basis of the Fraunhofer UMSICHT study, Interzero and its customers were able to push back Earth Overshoot Day 2025 by 10:28 minutes. More circular economy and resource efficiency, less strain on our planet – Interzero will continue to make every effort to achieve this in the future.
Sources:
* https://www.autoscout24.de/informieren/ratgeber/kfz-technik/gewicht-von-autos-frueher-und-heute/
** Calculation basis: ⌀ CO2 emissions from newly registered passenger cars in Germany in 2024 according to the Federal Motor Transport Authority, www.kba.de
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