responsible thoughts

Our responsible thoughts on the NZZ am Sonntag report of February 1, 2026, “treasonous signals”

Polyethylene terephthalate, or PET for short, celebrated its 80th birthday in 2021. Originally developed as an alternative to textile fibers, the material is now one of the most important in the packaging and textile industries.

PET bottles, in particular, are a success story. Up to 100% of old bottles can be recycled into new ones. However, this also has its drawbacks. Since PET can be used not only for bottles but also for other products, the competition for these bottles is fierce. Who is handling the old bottle more responsibly: the one who blows a new bottle from it, or the one who manufactures soundproofing mats?

Unfortunately, the return rate in Switzerland is only 84%; it would be much better if every bottle found its way back to the recycling plant. PRS (Pet Recycling Switzerland) does exemplary work in raising awareness, along with its collection options and its Sisyphean task of pre-sorting. Our collection system is almost as old as the PET bottle itself. It ensures that the bottle is responsibly recycled into a new one. Unfortunately, it does happen that some bottles are not handled correctly and are therefore used for inferior products. Making soundproofing mats from these is an excellent solution. Simply pointing the finger at the collection process and the large water bottlers is not effective.

Looking across the border to Germany, the collection rate is higher there, thanks to the deposit system. Unfortunately, this means the collected bottles don't return to the open beverage market but remain with the retailers. International beverage bottlers see very little of this rPET granulate again, as large retailers reprocess the returned material for their own beverages (Lidl's reusable bottle system). A solution involving alternative PET materials is therefore necessary. The use of new material derived from fossil fuels must be prevented. The possibilities exist. We know of responsible family businesses that can offer chemically recycled rPET in large quantities. Currently, the market for recycled materials is saturated. Prices are low. However, using snatched PET bottles to better insulate one's office space is almost cannibalistic.

From our perspective, taking responsibility for the next generation looks different. It means being ready to work together to improve energy, raise awareness, and develop alternatives. We still have many plastics that are difficult to recycle today. A functioning cycle that reuses high-quality plastics (like food-grade PET) for other products isn't responsible. The right approach is to find alternative materials that are suitable for the product and can be used in the future. And then, with a clear conscience, even the offices of multinational corporations can once again be soundproofed.