Environmental protection
About swissplast
Sustainability
swissplast – a tradition of environmental protection
Environmental protection is a value that swissplast has actively practiced since it was founded. We always want to set a good example within the plastics industry so that we can also motivate other companies to actively protect the environment.
The core of our actions lies in CO2 neutrality, which we achieve through low-emission and low-waste production and reforestation projects in India. We have been producing CO2-neutrally since 2013, and since 2021 we have also extended this to raw material extraction, transportation and recycling. This means we proudly work according to the motto “cradle-to-customer plus waste” and can fully offset our CO2 emissions.
Implement environmental protection, don’t just talk about it!
The swissplast® groupas one of the largest thermoforming companies with four plants in Europe, is once again taking on a pioneering role in environmental protection. AlreadyCO2-neutral in production since 2013, swissplast is going one step further from 2021! swissplast® neutralizes the entireCO2 emissions of all products manufactured and sold – from raw material extraction to the customer, including recycling!
swissplast® is probably the first plastic thermoforming company in the world to take full responsibility for theCO2 emissions caused by all the products it manufactures. Since 2013, long before many other companies in the industry, swissplast® has been committed to climate-neutral production.
Now it is going one step further. In recent months, swissplast® management, together with a certified partner, has calculated theCO2 emissions of all products on the basis of the “Greenhouse Gas Protocol Product Life Cycle Accounting and Reporting Standard” (GHG Protocol).
The “cradle-to-customer plus waste” approach was used for the calculation. This means that the life cycle phases taken into account include the extraction of raw materials and packaging, relevant logistics processes, the manufacture of the product, the delivery of the goods to the customer’s factory gate and relevant disposal emissions from the product and packaging.
Which climate project is being supported?
swissplast® has decided to support a project in India out of personal attachment. In the rural region of Tuppadahalli in India, wind turbines generate environmentally friendly electricity. They are replacing the power plants that are common in the area, avoiding the emission of greenhouse gases and pollutants. As a result, we have already offset over 62 million kilograms of CO2 by 2024.
Plastics – too good to throw away
At some point, every thermoformed product reaches the end of its life. Then it is ready for disposal. Plastics offer three very different possibilities here.
- Recycling through mechanical processing
- Recycling by splitting the plastics
- Recycling through incineration of plastics
Our company processes almost all plastic waste into a high-quality regenerated material by means of mechanical recycling. The waste is pre-sorted, shredded, i.e. mechanically prepared and then processed. This regenerated material is reused in our own products to close the cycle. You can also read our report on recycling plastics.
Further information from the Swiss Plastics Association. Our industry takes responsibility. The Swiss Plastics Association provides additional information at: We take responsibility.
Environmental protection through the UN Sustainable Development Goals
In its actions, swissplast follows the 17 sustainability goals set out by the United Nations. These form a frame of reference that companies and individuals can follow to make the world a more sustainable place. They are particularly relevant to swissplast’s work:
- Goal 7: affordable and clean energy
- Goal 8: Decent work and economic growth
- Goal 9: Industry, innovation and infrastructure
- Goal 12: Responsible consumption and production
- Goal 13: Climate protection measures
Read more about the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals here.
Electricity from your own solar panels
Our solar parks are another pillar of sustainability at swissplast. We already obtain our energy from the power of the sun at half of our sites. Together they have a capacity of 1.2 MWp, which is sufficient for up to 40% of our energy requirements. In Gotha, too, we are already planning such a system so that three out of four plants can draw on the power of the sun. This form of energy generation is not only environmentally friendly, but also pays off economically in the long term. It also creates independence from the prevailing electricity prices.
Photovoltaics in Ichenhausen
Photovoltaics in Ichenhausen
2023 was the starting signal for the use of solar energy at swissplast: our first own photovoltaic system was inaugurated at our plant in Ichenhausen this year. We estimate that we can cover between 20-30% of our annual electricity consumption at our largest plant with our own sustainable solar energy. This means that we are also actively using the power of the sun in Bavaria and thus contributing to a greener product.
Photovoltaics in Sargans
Photovoltaics in Sargans
In 2024, swissplast’s headquarters plant in Sargans followed suit and has been using a photovoltaic system with a capacity of 500 kWp ever since. This system makes it possible to cover around 30-40% of the plant’s energy requirements with solar energy and makes a significant contribution to reducing the CO2 footprint. Since then, the sun has not only provided good weather on Sargans’ local mountain, Gonzen, but also electricity for our plastics production.