Recycling Rate – A Second Life
More and more packaging waste is being recycled. For several years now, there has been good news in the area of recycling rates. Techniques and ideas are constantly evolving. Recycling is no longer just a legal requirement...
Turning old into new – that is the motto of recycling. In Germany, this principle has been ambitiously pursued since 2018, at the latest, with the introduction of the Packaging Act. And with success: the recycling rate is rising steadily. For 2023, the Central Agency for Packaging Registration (ZSVR) and the Federal Environment Agency (UBA) have already reported a new record: the recycling rate for plastic packaging has reached a new high of 68.9%.
It is clear and encouraging that we at GRAF are not the only ones who recognise how practical and sensible recycling is. Waste is not just rubbish, but raw materials and recyclable materials that are given a second life through recycling. This also saves resources and energy. The environment and climate also benefit. And recycling is financially worthwhile too!
Plastic recycling is no longer just a legal requirement but it has become an established market. This is also due to the fact that packaging has changed. Four out of five consumer packaging items are now highly recyclable. This makes recycling even easier, as the numerous types of plastic need to be separated less.
Technology is Constantly Evolving
Nevertheless, sorting is a major part of recycling. Fortunately, since 2020, we’ve had our own self-developed plant in Herbolzheim, where we extract the raw material for our products. It is one of the most modern facilities in the world. Here in South Baden, we use yoghurt pots, crisp packets and shampoo bottles to make our rainwater tanks and barrels, raised beds, infiltration modules and much more – all bearing the Green Planet collection label.
And that's just the beginning. Recycling is constantly evolving. Innovative processes now make it possible to recycle even more complex plastic composites. Research and industry partners such as GRAF are working to ensure that even more materials remain in the cycle in the near future.
At GRAF, we are committed to sustainability. Not only are our products made from recycled materials, but we also take care to conserve resources in our production processes. Modern technologies ensure that raw materials are processed efficiently, we generate most of the energy we need on site, and short transport routes further reduce our CO₂ emissions.
Recycling is therefore much more than just a trend – it is a key strategy for a sustainable future. And everyone can contribute by disposing of packaging correctly, separating it and recycling it. This way, old becomes not only new, but a good idea becomes a real benefit for us all.
