Interseroh offers multiple services arrangement

The Cologne, Germany-based Interseroh business unit of the Berlin-based Alba Group has formed Interseroh+ GmbH, which it says “is aimed at all companies that not only want to meet their legal obligation for packaging licensing but also want to take responsibility themselves for closing recycling and raw material loops.” Many of the services offered by the Interseroh Dienstleistungs GmbH (ISD) business unit will be transferred to Interseroh+.

“Consumers are demanding products and packaging that are not only recyclable but are made from an ever-higher share of recyclates,” says Markus Müller-Drexel, managing director of Interseroh+. “For manufacturers and distributors, but also for retailers with [their] own brands, this means they must secure access to the material loop to have sufficient recycling raw materials for their production in future.”

Interseroh+ predicts a “huge shortage” in recycled-content materials after the EU Commission introduces its minimum recycled-content quota for packaging and products in Europe. “A contract with Interseroh+ not only meets the licensing obligations but is more like an entry ticket to the entire raw material loop,” states Müller-Drexel.

According to the firm, companies that sign up to the Interseroh+ dual system can “also take advantage of other services in addition to access to recycling raw materials – from the research laboratory in Maribor, Slovenia, to the ‘Made for Recycling’ testing procedure, which evaluates the recyclability of packaging and provides advice on packaging design.”

Additionally, Interseroh+ offers what it calls a complete recyclable loop beyond the licensing business from one single source, with its in-house partners from the Alba Group. “With Alba Recycling, Germany’s market leader in sorting plants, and its own plastics processing as well as national and international partners in specialized recycling processes, Interseroh+ has a comprehensive production of recycled plastics at its disposal,” states the firm.

Brand owners and product distributors have the option of being “a silent partner in the start-up,” says Interseroh+. “Outwardly, this doesn't have to be done silently at all. Our partners can advertise this and make it clear to their customers that they go far beyond meeting the normal legal obligation with their commitment,” adds Müller-Drexel. “They are no longer commissioning a service provider but getting involved themselves and taking responsibility.”

Interseroh says it is “spinning off all competencies relating to the recycling cycle from the previous company ISD and bundling them in the new company, Interseroh+.” Müller-Drexel says the company is working to transfer previous ISD arrangements with German states to Interseroh+ and says “all old contracts as well as all experts for this business area are to be transferred to the new company.”

Adds Müller Drexel, “Together with our customers and partners, we want to focus on the important issues of the future: the further development and closing of the loop as well as the secure supply of recyclates, in the long term too: transparency throughout the system is the absolute maxim in the new ‘recycling alliance.’”