Waldquelle has its own forest, the Stöpselwald (cap forest). Together with a partner, the mineral water company has been collecting caps on a regional level for years and using them to grow trees. Now, with the support of PENNY Austria, the mineral water company in Central Burgenland is demonstrating how simple circular economy works and is counting on the willingness of all Austrians to collect.
From left: PENNY Managing Director Ralf Teschmit, Waldquelle Mineralwasser Managing Director Monika Fiala and PENNY Managing Director Mario Märzinger.
/ Copyright: PENNY / Harson,
Reproduction for PR purposes free of charge
Because: In order to protect nature and fight climate change, every recycled bottle cap counts. From the end of September 2022, all Austrians will be able to hand in their beverage caps directly at the more than 300 PENNY shops and thus set an example for environmental protection. The goal: More than 3.8 million caps are to be collected by the beginning of November. The valuable raw material will then be recycled and reused. With the net proceeds generated, over 1,000 new trees will be planted together with the initiative waldsetzen.jetzt, thus carrying out important work in the reforestation of forests damaged by climate change.
"With the introduction of the single-use deposit 2025, an important milestone in the circular economy will be set in Austria. But collection behaviour has to be learned: Bottles can only become bottles again if they are collected and recycled correctly," emphasises Monika Fiala, Managing Director of Waldquelle Mineralwasser. That is why the company supports Gerhard Brey, the nation's bottle collector. He has been collecting plastic caps from packaging in Lower Austria for years in order to keep the valuable material in the cycle.
Bottles can only become bottles again if they are correctly collected and recycled.
Monika FialaManaging Director Waldquelle Mineral Water
Thanks to PENNY, all of Austria can now join in the collection. "As a discounter, we are taking new, innovative paths for and with our customers. We are proud of this and are happy to go one step further with this sustainable project. With the collection boxes in the more than 300 PENNY stores, our customers can make a valuable contribution to environmental protection in a simple and uncomplicated way," says Ralf Teschmit, Managing Director of PENNY Austria, about the joint pioneering work.
We are proud and excited to go one step further with this sustainable project.
Ralf TeschmitPENNY Austria CEO
"When it comes to sustainable management, we at PENNY have been following a consistent path for years. Because sustainability is not only part of our DNA in theory, but also a lived reality in our shops. With our long-standing retail partner Waldquelle, we not only have a good working relationship, but also a sustainable set of values," adds PENNY CEO Mario Märzinger.
Sustainability is not only part of our DNA in theory, but a living reality in our shops.
Mario MärzingerPENNY Austria CEO
How does a cap become a tree?
From the PENNY shops, the bottle caps go directly to the recycling plant. The raw material is processed and prepared for reuse. With the net proceeds of the sold raw material, the initiative waldsetzen.jetzt, winner of the Waldquelle Future Award 2021, plants over 1,000 trees in Austria together with Waldquelle Mineral Water and PENNY. The mineral water company from Central Burgenland has already planted over 3,700 trees in recent years.
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