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REMONDIS’ business locations around the world
Being one of the world’s leading recycling, service and water companies, REMONDIS has around 1,000 business locations across the globe. These can be found in over 30 countries in Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia.
REMONDIS’ business locations in Germany
REMONDIS’ business activities in Germany are managed and carried out by its six regional companies. REMONDIS also has a whole variety of specialist companies, many of which are based here in Germany as well.
Plastics fill our lives with colour. Again and again thanks to recycling
The waste management sector recycles practically all of the plastic waste that is collected. In 2017, 46% of all plastic waste collected underwent mechanical recycling and almost one percent feedstock recycling.
53% of the plastic waste materials were thermally treated to produce energy, which is just another way of saying that they were incinerated and lost to us forever. The share of mechanical recycling should be further increased and this should happen quickly – to help curb climate change and conserve our planet’s natural resources.
Waste plastic recycling rates
Development of plastics recycling (in thousand tonnes)
Source: UBA [Federal Environment Agency] 2020, own compilation using data from CONVERSIO Market & Strategy GmbH
In 2015, 18.5 million tonnes of plastic were produced in Germany, which were then processed into 12.1 million products. 5.9 million tonnes of plastic waste were generated in the same year.
Recyclates are far superior to virgin raw materials
REMONDIS does everything in its power to ensure plastics are sent for materials recycling so that they can be reused. Why? Because the benefits of recycling plastic are huge for the climate compared to producing plastic from virgin raw materials. The main reason for this is because virgin plastic has to be made from crude oil – something that results in high levels of carbon emissions. Compared to the production of virgin plastic from primary raw materials, every tonne of recycled plastic preserves 2 tonnes of crude oil and cuts carbon emissions by up to 1.6 tonnes. Which means that REMONDIS’ company RE Plano, which is responsible for producing plastic recyclate within the Group and makes 20,000 tonnes of plastic pellets every year, helps curb climate change by reducing annual carbon emissions by 30,000 tonnes.
Where recycled plastics are reused
Plastic recyclates are primarily used to make new products in two main areas: construction and packaging. 65.5% of the plastic recyclate consumed in Germany in 2017 was used for these two sectors.
The use of plastic recyclates in Germany in 2019 // Source: UBA [Federal Environment Agency] 2020, own compilation using data from Conversio Market & Strategy GmbH
The EU’s Plastics Strategy and what it means
Passed in 2019, the Plastics Strategy aims to drive forward the sustainable use of recycled raw materials. To achieve this goal, the EU also drew up a comprehensive plan of action. This not only includes measures to financially support recycling technologies and encourage the use of recyclates on the market but also options to impose sanctions and restrictions. Just one example of the latter is the ban on certain single-use products (such as plastic straws and Q-tips) that came into force in 2019.
Measures & provisions to promote recycling
To recycle more than half of all the waste plastic generated in Europe (by 2030)
To increase the sorting and recycling capacities within the EU fourfold by 2030 (compared to 2015)
For Europe to be world leaders in separation / recycling facilities and technologies
Measures to promote more sustainable production activities
To gradually forgo using substances that make recycling more difficult
For manufacturers to voluntarily pledge to use ten million tonnes of recycled plastic across the EU by 2025
To introduce quality standards for sorted plastic waste and plastic recyclates
To restrict the targeted use of microplastics and the use of oxo-degradable additives
To financially support investments and research activities within the plastics value chain
Measures & provisions to increase the acceptance of recyclates
For the demand for recycled plastic to increase fourfold by 2025 (compared to 2018)
To possibly introduce a plastics tax
To draw up harmonised rules for defining and labelling bioplastics
To call on national authorities to increase their use of recycled plastic in their public procurement measures
