Swico invests in e-waste recycling of the future

Swico Recycling has saved 38 million tons of CO2 emissions in the last ten years alone. Most of this is thanks to the return of precious metals such as gold, silver and platinum from discarded digital devices to the materials cycle. This ecological track record is thanks to the voluntary recycling system that manufacturers, importers and retailers of digital devices join and which is financed by the advance recycling contribution.

Nevertheless, the recycling industry is increasingly under pressure. This is due on the one hand to growing political environmental awareness, and on the other to volatile offtake markets. Swico Recycling's system, however, is not in question, as it is exceptionally successful with a take-back rate of 95 percent. "With well-functioning systems, additional regulation brings no advantage. We focus specifically on innovation," says Judith Bellaiche, managing director of Swico Recycling. Despite its leading international position, Switzerland should not lose its innovative strength in the field of electrical recycling either, she adds.

Innovation as a golden path

For this reason, Swico has set up an innovation fund, which is fed with part of the recycling contributions. The fund provides financial support for projects that are intended to give an innovation boost to the Swico Recycling ecosystem. The projects can arise in the entire recycling chain, starting with the collection of scrap and ending with the removal of recyclable materials. In this context, Swico's contractual partners can also enter into collaborations with startups or research institutes to enable projects outside the usual guardrails.

For recyclers, the Innovation Fund brings incentives at the right time: Many recycling partners have the will and the potential for innovations, but do not get around to implementing them in the current competitive environment - whether for lack of money or time. "A cash injection at the right time can give an idea wings," Judith Bellaiche is convinced.

Complex system

In addition to the ecological benefits, Swico Recycling's voluntary system brings high added value for consumers and society. On the one hand, the dense network of return points, together with public and private collection points as well as specialist stores and wholesalers, provides a total of over 6,000 drop-off options. On the other hand, the system provides employment for around 1,000 people in the secondary labor market.

About the Swico Environmental Innovation Fund: 

With the Swico Environmental Innovation Fund, Swico Recycling aims - in the interest of consumers as well as manufacturers and importers - to increase the quantity and quality of recycling of waste IT and office electrical equipment.

To this end, Swico Recycling supports promising recycling projects with up to

CHF 300,000. Recycling is understood in the comprehensive sense of the circular economy: Logistics, control or the extension of the service life of equipment are also included. For example, projects from applied research and development or pilot tests can be funded.

Participants in the ecosystem who have a contractual relationship with Swico can apply. Cooperations and alliances with third parties, namely startups, are welcomed. The advisory board of the Swico Innovation Fund decides on the support contributions.

www.swico.ch

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Advisory Board Composition:

The advisory board of the Swico Environmental Innovation Fund is made up of proven experts who are active in an area relevant to the fund:

Roger Gnos (Chairman), Dangerous Goods Officer and Member of the Swico Recycling Technical Commission

Heinz Böni, Head of Swico Conformity Assessment Body SN EN 50625, Empa

Marius Schlegel, Member of the Swico Recycling Board