Making progress together

“As for the future, your task is not to foresee it, but to enable it.” Author Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s words also sum up what truly drives us: making the future possible. We have realised a number of projects with you this year – for a sustainable take-back system for electrical and electronic appliances.


Strong growth in the SENS network

Over 1,000 ARF partners for the first time

As of the end of 2021, SENS eRecycling can count on the support of 1,202 ARF partners – more than ever before! By affiliating with SENS eRecycling, the ARF partners voluntarily support our nationwide take-back system, which enables consumers to easily dispose of and professionally recycle their disused electrical and electronic appliances.

The wonderfully strong growth can be partially explained by the merger with SLRS (+133 new ARF partners) and the affiliation of the Swiss association of independent car dealers (VFAS; +46 new ARF partners), as well as by the result of the successful acquisition activities of our Customer and Partners team. The team was able to convince an additional 16.65 per cent of ARF partners (increase without SLRS and VFAS) of the advantages of an affiliation with SENS eRecycling. In addition to fulfilling the legal obligations according to the ORDEE, an affiliation with SENS eRecycling offers other attractive advantages:

  • ARF partners support a fair take-back solution and ensure that all system participants have a level playing field through binding financial framework conditions.
  • ARF partners actively help shape and utilise an efficient cross-industry network.
  • ARF partners offer their consumers maximum convenience.
  • ARF partners can enjoy the advantages of an industry solution.

Are you also interested in an affiliation? Then get in touch with us!

Conclusion

Interest in SENS eRecycling is growing. More and more companies are supporting the fair take-back solution and can thereby offer their customers maximum convenience. As a result, the SENS network continues to grow year after year.


Swissolar communication

Joining forces against misinformation

Swissolar, the Swiss professional association for solar energy, and its members joined the SENS eRecycling take-back system in 2010. The disposal of disused photovoltaic modules is thereby regulated and financed – however, the association has noticed that this aspect is precisely what is still poorly understood.

Swissolar, the Swiss professional association for solar energy, and its members joined the SENS eRecycling take-back system in 2010. The disposal of disused photovoltaic modules is thereby regulated and financed – however, the association has noticed that this aspect is precisely what is still poorly understood.

Conclusion

We do a lot of good for the environment – that’s why we like to talk about it together.


Umbrella campaign with Swiss Recycling

The most conscientious flatshare in Switzerland

In this year’s umbrella campaign, Swiss Recycling was looking for the most conscientious flatshare in Switzerland – and found it in Lucerne! With their creative contribution, the flatshare of Svenja, Ramon and Remo was able to assert itself against around 20 competitors.

Around four million people between the ages of 15 and 49 were reached with the umbrella campaign and were made aware of the topics of separation, collection and return across parliamentary groups. These excellent figures were achieved in particular through targeted online advertising. The out-of-home measures also achieved great results: around 860,000 people saw one of the numerous posters in Switzerland.

The 20 or so application videos for Switzerland’s most conscientious flatshare were particularly entertaining, in which the competitors creatively showed how recyclable materials are separated, collected and returned in their flatshare. Around 4,500 people voted for their favourite from all the entries and chose the winning flat. The contributions, some of which were very elaborately produced, can be viewed on the campaign website at www.werde-buenzli.ch.

Conclusion

The umbrella campaign reached many Swiss people and communicated the topic of recycling in an easily accessible way.


VFAS industry solution

A sustainable disposal solution for the independent car trade

An industry solution for a standardised process for the collection, transport and recycling of industrial and vehicle batteries was developed in 2021 together with the VFAS and launched on 1 January 2022. The VFAS industry solution is financed through a market-based, advance recycling contribution (ARC).

Manufacturers and importers of batteries are subject to the obligation to report and pay fees according to the Chemical Risk Reduction Ordinance (ORRChem). Due to an exemption obtained by the VFAS in 2017, vehicle and industrial batteries were excluded from this fee until 31 December 2021. As of 1 January 2022, this general exemption from the obligation to pay fees no longer applies. Manufacturers and importers of batteries must now pay an advance disposal fee (ADF) of CHF 1.60 per kilogram to the INOBAT organisation. Due to the rapidly increasing sales of traction batteries in vehicles (electric, plug-in, hybrid and mild hybrid), it was essential for car dealers to take responsibility for disposal costs and contribute towards a sustainable recycling solution.

VFAS industry solution ensures environmentally friendly disposal of batteries
The VFAS industry solution developed by SENS eRecycling and the VFAS uses efficient, simple and customer-friendly processes to ensure that used car batteries are fully and properly recycled. Manufacturers and importers can apply to be exempted from paying the fee if they ensure environmentally friendly disposal of the batteries as part of an industry solution or due to special market conditions. The VFAS industry solution meets the criteria required by law and also offers its members the opportunity to work towards strengthening the Swiss circular economy by closing cycles, for example through recycling or second-life applications.

Parallel importers sell overproportionately high amounts of electric cars
By selling green vehicles, parallel importers are making an important contribution to the reduction of CO2 emissions in Switzerland. The analysis of new car registrations shows that the independent importers were able to increase the proportion of plug-in vehicles from 5 to over 39 per cent within three years. Together with hybrid vehicles, the market share of independent importers in this field is therefore at a high 62 per cent. This means that significantly more than every second new car imported via independent trade has an alternative drive.

Conclusion

The VFAS industry solution ensures the environmentally friendly disposal of batteries – with efficient, simple and customer-friendly processes.