Companies Choose New Plastic Over Recycling for Tiny Savings, Says Frosch and Erdal Chief

Major corporations are opting for new plastic instead of recycled materials, citing a cost saving of just 1.4 cents per bottle. Reinhard Schneider, CEO of the German family-owned company Werner & Mertz, which produces brands like Frosch and Erdal, criticizes this approach. He warns that Europe's recycling economy is falling behind because large companies find it cheaper to run machinery with virgin plastic.

Schneider's company, however, uses recycled materials in its products. He views his brand's signature green frog logo as a political statement, advocating for recycling and a circular economy. He argues that this cost-saving strategy by industry colleagues is damaging the entire sector and promoting greenwashing.

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Major corporations prefer new plastic because the machines run cheaper.

The preference for new plastic over recycled alternatives highlights a significant challenge in advancing sustainable practices within the industry. While companies like Werner & Mertz demonstrate that recycled materials are viable, the broader industry's focus on marginal cost reductions impedes progress toward a circular economy.

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Europe's recycling economy is falling further and further behind.