Plastics offer a wide range of benefits. Their unique properties and wide range of applications make them an integral part of modern life. They are not only lighter than most other materials, but also offer protection and safety, are highly adaptable and durable, as well as being relatively inexpensive to produce.

However, plastics that do not decompose, or only slowly, are a burden on the environment. If they do not enter the materials or energy recovery system, they can pollute soils and bodies of water for decades. And as there are no effective collection, sorting, and recycling systems in many countries, the lion’s share of plastics produced worldwide are not adequately recycled or recovered.

We firmly believe that a comprehensive implementation of the circular economy principle can significantly reduce the environmental impact of plastics. We are therefore systematically converting our plastic product ranges and packaging to a circular economy approach and realigning our plastic production and recycling. This involves continuously improving the environmental properties of plastics and developing ecologically viable alternatives whose materials can be recovered, recycled, or reused.

Our aim is to offer only products that are made entirely from recycled or renewable raw materials in a climate- and resource-friendly way. They should be durable and 100 percent recyclable or degradable in nature without causing pollution. Our operating division Cofresco, which manufactures most of our plastic products, has set itself a clear target: in the future, all Cofresco products and packaging will be made exclusively from recycled or renewable raw materials and be fully recyclable or compostable.

In order to develop more environmentally friendly plastics and establish industry-wide circular economy systems, we seek to engage and collaborate with other market participants, initiatives, and scientific institutions. After all, we are dependent on the commercial availability of alternative materials. In addition, we develop business models that create economic value while also promoting environmental and societal objectives. We also place great importance on education and training with regard to the recycling of plastics, such as disposal and separation.

Redefining success: Impact-oriented business

In many cities, plastic waste poses a major threat to public health and the environment. In Bangalore, India, for example, around 3,500 tons of plastic waste end up on the roadside or in illegal landfills every day. This not only pollutes the environment, but also affects the lives of many people.

To help solve this problem, we launched the “Fair Recycled Plastic” initiative. Its aim is to reduce environmental and marine pollution by processing plastic waste, while also improving the living and working conditions of waste pickers and their families.

The recycling company “Vishuddh Recycle” was therefore founded in Bangalore in 2022 as a joint venture between Yunus Social Business Fund gGmbH and Cofresco. This social business obtains its plastic waste exclusively from waste disposal companies that ensure good working conditions for their waste pickers and uses it to produce reusable plastic granules in a multi-stage production process.

This is then shipped to Poland, where it is used as a raw material for the production of bin liners under the Swirl^® and Handy Bag^® brands.

All profits generated by “Vishuddh Recycle” are ploughed back into the company or donated to charitable organizations that work to improve healthcare and provide additional educational opportunities for waste pickers and their families. These include, for example, the “Smile on Wheels” initiative – offering free primary healthcare to waste pickers and their families – and the “Hasiru Dala Trust” – offering training opportunities. This not only creates a better waste infrastructure in Bangalore, but also generates additional sources of income, better living conditions, and new prospects for the waste pickers and their families.

Plastic granulate production began in 2023. More than 600 tons of recycled material (recyclate) have already been used to produce bin liners. The granulate processed in India accounts for around five to ten percent of the raw materials needed to produce bin liners. In 2024, the amount of plastic granulate produced is expected to increase to around 2,000 tons, and then double again the following year.