The recycling of raw materials is an effective lever for climate protection and ensures that Germany and Europe remain sustainable as a place to live and do business. The ‘resources SAVED by recycling’ study published today shows that Interzero was able to avoid a total of 1.2 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions in 2023 by recycling around 2.5 million tonnes of recyclable materials. At the same time, Interzero and its customers saved over 11.1 million tonnes of primary resources. Fraunhofer UMSICHT has been analysing the environmental impact of recycling for Interzero for over 15 years. The research institute's annual life cycle assessment confirms the sustainable impact of recycling. ‘On the one hand, our studies provide a strategic decision-making basis for sustainable action, but we also offer expertise in the process of transformation to a circular economy,’ explains Dr Markus Hiebel, Head of Sustainability and Participation at Fraunhofer UMSICHT.

Textile recycling not yet established

A complete transformation to a circular economy must include all material groups. Unlike packaging recycling, for example, textile recycling is still in its infancy: Around 92 million tonnes of textiles are thrown away worldwide every year. So far, however, only one percent of this huge material flow flows into fibre-to-fibre recycling and thus back into the production cycle.

‘Looking at textiles as a recyclable material, it becomes clear what enormous ecological potential there is in recycling - and why there is an urgent need to drive forward the circular transformation of the economy at all levels,’ says Dr Axel Schweitzer, Chairman and Partner of Interzero. ‘This also applies in particular to recyclable materials that are not yet consistently recycled. We want to work with the industry to close the textile loop and use our experience as an established system service provider to develop a holistic concept for taking back, sorting and recycling,’ says Dr Axel Schweitzer.

Plastics are an important component of textiles. Plastics in particular are very important in our economy due to their property profile and are therefore being analysed across the board in the Fraunhofer Cluster of Excellence Circular Plastics Economy CCPE coordinated by Fraunhofer UMSICHT. Whether bio(plastics), additives used for this purpose, compounding or material and chemical recycling - Fraunhofer CCPE combines the expertise of six Fraunhofer Institutes and industrial partners for the transition from a linear to a circular plastics economy. Looking at the entire life cycle of plastic products, the Fraunhofer CCPE team helps companies to design their products in a circular way and turn plastic waste into valuable resources.