The Swiss non-profit association RecyPac draws a positive conclusion from its first year of operation in its 2025 annual report. According to the industry organisation, around 1.5 million people had access to the national collection system for plastic packaging and beverage cartons by the end of 2025. A total of 478 tonnes of collected material was recorded.
Since the system's launch in January 2025, the RecyBag has been introduced in numerous cities, towns, and regions. Major expansions included Basel, Lausanne, St. Gallen, and Zurich, as well as the regions of Southeastern Switzerland and Zimmerberg. In parallel, the network of collection and sales points has been expanded to over 500 locations.
„From zero to 1.5 million – that's how many people will have access to the RecyBag by the end of 2025. We can be proud of that,“ said RecyPac President Kathrin Amacker.
Expansion of the circular economy
RecyPac views a significant step for further development in the letter of intent signed in autumn 2025 with InnoRecycling AG, operator of the „Bring Plastic Back“ collection system. The aim is to integrate the system into RecyPac's national solution. At the same time, InnoWay is to concentrate more strongly on sorting and recycling in the future.
Already in May 2025, RecyPac signed a sorting contract with member company Leo-Recycle. According to the organisation, this allows RecyPac to sort plastic packaging and beverage cartons within Switzerland. These agreements are intended to strengthen the national circular economy.
As part of the members' meeting on 21 May 2026 in Bern, Philippe Model, CEO of InnoPlastics AG, was also newly elected to the board and will take over the waste disposal companies' seat.
Trade dominates the take-back
According to the first published monitoring, around two-thirds of the 478 tonnes of materials collected in 2025 came from trade returns. The remaining third was collected through municipalities and private recycling companies. RecyPac views this as an indication that the trade is preparing for future take-back obligations.
An external audit by Neosys AG confirmed the complete recording of goods flows, according to the organisation. No indications of material losses or undocumented substance flows were found.
Source: RecyPac
