On 23 January 2020, GreenBuzz Zurich is holding the thematic event, "Closing the Loop – Towards a Circular Plastic Economy" in Zurich, Switzerland.
While Switzerland has highly efficient waste collection systems, it generates over 100 kg of plastic waste per capita, over three times the European average. The large majority (75%) of which is incinerated in waste-to-energy plants. Amidst growing consumer concerns around plastic pollution, there is increasing pressure on many Swiss companies to reduce their plastic use and invest in reusable or biodegradable alternatives.
In light of these challenges, the development of circular plastic value chains represents an exciting opportunity to close material loops, eliminate waste and delink economic growth from increasing resource use.
At this event, GreenBuzz Zurich will bring together practitioners from business and research to discuss:
- What exactly are the Swiss businesses and organisations that are working on this issue doing in their efforts towards a circular plastic economy?
- Plastic packaging plays a key role in protecting and preserving food. Removing plastic from food applications can result in increased food wastage and associated environmental impacts. When is plastic the right material to use and how do we find the right balance?
- Biobased and biodegradable plastics are becoming increasingly common on the market. Where can these alternatives best be used and what are their environmental impacts?
- Only 14% of plastic is currently being recycled globally. What are the challenges of improving recycling systems and rates both in Switzerland and elsewhere around the world?
- Circular systems require high levels of collaboration across all the stakeholders within the value chain. Plastic value chains are complex and globalised; how can companies, governments and consumers collaborate across geographical, political, technological and social boundaries to create a more circular system?