From linear to recycling economy

The prevailing linear economic model demands vast resources and energy. It includes extracting natural resources from the earth, making products from them, and finally disposing of them as waste. This approach severely impacts the environment.

To address this, repairing products and recycling materials help reduce waste and resource consumption. Switzerland's effective recycling system enables a circular economy in which pollutants are properly disposed of and valuable materials are recycled wherever possible. However, for plastics, electronics, and mixed materials, only downcycling or thermal recovery in waste incineration plants is often feasible. This system has great potential to better preserve resources.