The Mainz-based cleaning products manufacturer Werner & Mertz and PreZero, the environmental services provider of the Schwarz Group, are starting a cooperation. As part of Werner & Mertz's Recyclate Initiative, PreZero is now the new cooperation partner responsible for licensing the recyclable packaging made from recyclate from the medium-sized company.
At the same time, both companies want to counteract the shortage of raw materials in the recyclates sector in a joint strategic partnership, promote the use of recyclates and further expand the circular economy. The first concrete project has already been implemented and was presented at the „Circular Economy Day“ organised by the BDE (German Association of Waste Management Companies).
Best case: Detergent bottle made from 100 per cent rHDPE
The 3-litre Frosch brand detergent bottle, which is used for the French market - where the brand is called Rainett - consists of afrom 100 per cent rHDPE from the Yellow Bag. PreZero provides the Systematic sorting in one of its state-of-the-art recycling plants in Grünstadt, Rhineland-Palatinate ensures that suitable plastic is provided from household waste. The packaging manufacturer Frielinghaus uses these recyclates to produce the bottle, which is then filled by Werner & Mertz at the production centre in Mainz with the Frosch formulations.
„We are delighted to have found a strong and energetic partner in PreZero for the continuation of our recyclate initiative. In this respect, PreZero ideally fulfils the idea underlying the high-quality circular economy of producing new packaging from used packaging from the Yellow Bag collection.“
Timothy Glaz, Head of Corporate Affairs at Werner & Mertz
Next projects already being planned
This concept is now being systematically expanded: With the partnership, PreZero is also holding out the prospect of larger quantities of HDPE recyclate in the future in order to further expand the product portfolio. The ensures the continuous availability of the material - a central building block for planning security and scalability in the production of further plastic bottles. The circular value chain also contributes to the forward-looking securing of raw materials - a central theme of the Schwarz Group companies' sustainability strategy.
„For us, a secure supply of raw materials doesn't just start with production, but with a shared understanding of closed loops. With Werner & Mertz, we have a partner at our side who also thinks holistically about the circular economy and has the same vision in mind. We are very pleased about that.“
Dietmar Böhm, Director Dual, Intragroup, Services & New Business at PreZero International
The partnership is to be supplemented by A clear digital orientation become: To further advance the digital packaging revolution, Werner & Mertz is planning to collect data via SPOT - the Digitisation tool from PreZero in cooperation with Packaging Cockpit to capture. This transfer of knowledge - also within the entire industry - offers everyone involved a better exchange and therefore many opportunities for future-oriented changes.
One billion bottles from 100 per cent PCR
In 2012 Werner & Mertz launched the Recyclate Initiative with cooperation partners along the entire value chain to promote the high-quality recycling of plastics from household collections such as the Yellow Bag by means of mechanical recycling. Since then, the initiative has enjoyed numerous successes: The first Frosch washing-up liquids with rPET bottles made from 100 per cent post-consumer recyclate (PCR) were launched back in 2014, 20 per cent of which came from the Yellow Bag source. Since then, the use of Yellow Bag material has been continuously increased. For example, since 2016 rHDPE bottles made from 100 per cent recyclate from the Yellow Bag, which are used for emsal and Green Care Professional brand products.
In the case of rPET bottles for the Frosch brand, the proportion of yellow bags was increased from 20 to 50 per cent in 2021 and from 50 to 75 per cent in 2023. And A new record will be set on 23 June 2025Werner & Mertz will then reach one billion rPET bottles made of 100 per cent PCR as part of the initiative.
Source: Werner & Mertz
