The plastics industry as a whole has achieved some remarkable results in applying the principles of the circular economy, and it continues to invest in this effort. That said, one aspect has often not been sufficiently considered globally. To reach its full potential, a smoothly functioning collection infrastructure is essential. Since May 2024, the Otto Systems Plastic Recovery Fund – the first of its kind from a systems engineering and mould manufacturer – has been addressing this bottleneck in India, where the Fund finances the decentralised collection, sorting and ethical processing of plastic waste.
Infrastructure makes the difference.
In the Fund’s first twelve months, 225,000 kilograms of plastic waste were collected in 42 communities in rural Kerala. The collected plastic waste was processed according to rePurpose Global's "Verified Plastic Recovery" standards. This ensures complete traceability and prevents waste from continuing to be disposed of in the natural environment. Earlier this year, Otto Hofstetter and his wife Brigitt traveled to Kerala to visit the project on site and engage with local partners and residents.
In addition to collecting and processing a significant amount of plastic waste, the Fund supports important investments to improve infrastructure, building new material recovery facilities and installing mechanised sorting systems to further increase recycling capacity. This financing helped make the circular economy viable in locales where public solutions are limited or underfunded.
Social benefits included.
In addition to its environmental impact, the Fund also has a significant social impact, adding some 1,500 jobs to the community, 98 per cent of which are filled by women. These workers have permanent employment contracts and receive fair wages, safety equipment and proper training in various aspects of the recycling process. This combination of technical support and social impact demonstrates what’s possible when the plastics industry goes beyond its traditional boundaries and invests where the need is greatest.
Join Otto Systems.
Customers of Otto Systems – Otto Hofstetter AG's sister company specialised in turnkey PET preform production systems – can support this project with their company. Their commitment to the Fund will be confirmed with a certificate, and data updates from the Kerala project will be provided. This allows the company’s engagement to be integrated into its sustainability reporting and to be used in its communications.
rePurpose
rePurpose Global is the world's leading organisation combatting the unethical disposal of plastic. It works with companies, consumers and policymakers to meet the challenges of a circular plastics economy. The organisation operates in North and South America, Africa and Asia to empower local communities, protect ecosystems and promote the circular economy:
