What Pet Recycling does

PET-Recycling Schweiz (legally Verein PRS PET-Recycling Schweiz) is a Swiss non-profit association mandated by the PET Ordinance to operate the country's voluntary PET beverage bottle recycling system, headquartered in Zürich with a regional office in Le Mont-sur-Lausanne. Founded in 1991, the organization manages Switzerland's closed bottle-to-bottle PET loop, which processed approximately 1.3 billion bottles (34,095 tonnes) in 2023 and achieved an 84% national recycling rate — among the highest globally for a system operating without a mandatory deposit scheme. It serves individual Swiss consumers, more than 30,000 participating companies, approximately 4,000 schools, Swiss municipalities, event organizers, and retailers across all three language regions.

The organization's technical stack comprises three Swiss sorting centers (including the newly built Oberengstringen facility operated by Müller Recycling AG) capable of processing up to 150,000 bottles per hour at 99.9% purity, plus two domestic recycling plants that convert sorted bottles into food-grade R-PET flakes, granulates, and preforms. Preforms are then shipped to beverage fillers, who produce new bottles with an average 60% R-PET content (some manufacturers at 100%). Logistics are handled by 40+ regional disposal partners providing free pickup from registered collection points, supported by a portfolio of 11+ collection container SKUs sold through the organization's own e-commerce web shop.

Revenue is derived from membership contributions from the beverage, retail, and trade sectors, supplemented by modest e-commerce sales of collection containers (CHF 45–1,400), information materials, and the PETflash digital magazine. Collection, pickup, and the environmental certificate program are free of charge for all participants. The organization does not receive government funding and operates without a bottle deposit scheme; its marketing and acquisition engine combines multilingual digital presence (DE/FR/IT), TikTok/DOOH campaigns, content marketing through PETflash, and a Sereo AG field sales team targeting new B2B collection point registrations.

Name

Pet Recycling

Legal name

Verein PRS PET-Recycling Schweiz

Website

https://petrecycling.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

PET-Recycling Schweiz (Verein PRS PET-Recycling Schweiz) is a Zürich-based non-profit association that operates Switzerland's voluntary PET bottle recycling system, processing 1.3 billion bottles annually across 72,000+ collection points and serving consumers, 30,000+ companies, 4,000 schools, municipalities, and retailers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Plastic Recycling Services

NAICS

Solid Waste Collection (562111), Plastics Bottle Manufacturing (326160)

SIC

Miscellaneous Plastics Products (3080)

akta.pro primary industry

Recycling Transfer & Consolidation (Single-Stream, Dual-Stream, Source-Separated) (EUAIABAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

On-site Recycling Programs (Single-Stream, Source-Separated) (BPABALAB)

Keywords

• PET bottle recycling
• Closed-loop recycling
• Collection infrastructure
• Recycled PET materials
• Beverage packaging recovery

Headquarters

HQ city

Zürich

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Membership contributions: PET-Recycling Schweiz is a non-profit association (Verein) funded by members from the beverage, retail, and trade sectors. Member contributions support the organization's operations, collection infrastructure, and environmental programs. The organization has been operating since 1991.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels13 records

Core offering

PET-Recycling Schweiz operates the Swiss voluntary PET beverage bottle collection and recycling system, running over 72,000 collection points and processing approximately 1.3 billion bottles annually through three automated sorting centers and two recycling plants into food-grade R-PET (recycled PET) used by beverage manufacturers in a closed bottle-to-bottle loop. The non-profit association sells collection containers and bags through its web shop, provides free pickup of registered collection points via 40+ regional disposal partners, and issues environmental certificates for collection participants.

Product overview

PET-Recycling Schweiz operates as a non-profit organization managing Switzerland's PET recycling system since 1991. The organization's offerings center on a closed bottle-to-bottle recycling cycle with three collection container product lines (PET-Box, PET-Container, Recyclingstation), supplemented by collection bags, information materials (PETflash magazine), and the R-PET recycled material product. The collection containers range from 110-liter indoor units (Zylinder, Vulkan, Konus, Metall, Rollcontainer, Ständer) to 360-720 liter outdoor units (Gitter, Doppelgitter), with specialized event containers and recycling stations (R-Point 3, R-Point 4). Add-on services include an environmental certificate program for collection points and an energy comparison tool demonstrating the savings from PET recycling.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• PET-Box «Zylinder» 110 Liter Cylindrical 110-liter PET collection container designed for indoor collection points such as offices, schools, and community centers; sold through the web shop at CHF 45.00 ex VAT with free delivery.
• PET-Box «Vulkan» 110 Liter Volcanic-shaped 110-liter PET collection container suitable for indoor and outdoor collection points; priced at CHF 45.00 ex VAT on the web shop.
• PET-Container «Konus» 110 Liter Conical 110-liter PET collection container for offices, classrooms, canteens, and fitness centers; priced at CHF 155.00 ex VAT on the web shop.
• PET-Rollcontainer 110-Liter Mobile 110-liter roll container for retail stores, gas stations, take-aways, and kiosks; priced at CHF 180.00 ex VAT on the web shop.
• PET-Container «Metall» 110-Liter Metal 110-liter collection container designed for school buildings, office buildings, tourism operations, and railway stations; priced at CHF 392.00 ex VAT on the web shop.
• Recyclingstation «R-Point 3» Multi-stream recycling station with 110-liter capacity designed for sports fields, public places, swimming facilities, and barbecue areas; priced at CHF 1,200.00 ex VAT.
• Recyclingstation «R-Point 4» Multi-stream recycling station with enhanced capacity for public places, parks, swimming facilities, sports fields, and barbecue areas; priced at CHF 1,400.00 ex VAT.
• PET-Ständer 110-Liter Standalone 110-liter collection holder for canteens, office buildings, and workshops; priced at CHF 110.00 ex VAT on the web shop.
• PET-Container «Gitter» 360-Liter Grid-style 360-liter large collection container for municipalities, utility yards, and swimming pools; priced at CHF 509.00 ex VAT.
• PET-Container «Doppelgitter» 360-Liter Double grid-style 360-liter container with 720-liter total capacity for high-volume collection points; priced at CHF 908.00 ex VAT on the web shop.
• Sammelsäcke (PET Collection Bags) Official collection bags for PET beverage bottles, sold through the web shop; since 2023 bags contain over 80% recycled material and BigBags include 30% Tide Ocean Material certified recycled ocean plastic.
• R-PET (Recycled PET) Food-grade recycled PET material produced at Swiss recycling plants from collected PET beverage bottles, processed into R-PET flakes, granulates, and preforms for beverage manufacturers in the closed bottle-to-bottle loop.
• Umweltzertifikat für Sammelstellen (Environmental Certificate for Collection Points) Annual certificate issued to voluntary collection points (offices, schools, associations) quantifying greenhouse gas and crude oil savings achieved through their PET collection activities.
• PET-Box Zylinder 3-Pack Three-pack bundle of cylindrical 110-liter PET collection containers offered at CHF 99.00 ex VAT on the web shop for organizations needing multiple indoor units.
• Event Collection Container Lending Service Free lending of PET collection containers to event organizers (concerts, festivals, village fairs) including free delivery, setup, and collection by transport partners; booked via an online form.

Quantifiable outcome

• 84% PET bottle recycling rate achieved in Switzerland (2023), among the world's highest without mandatory deposit system
• +8 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration12 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, key and minor.

• Over 40 Regional Disposal PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA network of over 40 regional disposal and transport partners across all Swiss regions (Northwest Switzerland, Zurich, Eastern Switzerland, Western Switzerland, Bern, Central Switzerland, Graubünden, Ticino) handles pickup of collected PET bags from registered voluntary collection points. Partners deliver empty bags when collecting full ones. Collection service is free for registered collection points. Partners serve as the operational logistics backbone of the Swiss PET recycling system.
• Müller Recycling AGcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMüller Recycling AG operates one of the three Swiss PET sorting centers, specifically the facility in Oberengstringen (Zurich). The company performs automated sorting at up to 150,000 bottles/hour with 99.9% purity, including foreign substance removal, color sorting (transparent, light blue, green, brown), and manual final inspection. The Oberengstringen plant was newly built as part of PET-Recycling Schweiz's capacity expansion.
• AGIR AGcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAGIR AG operates a sorting facility where tests began in late 2024 for material recycling of PE caps separated during the PET sorting process. Over 80% of PE material from AGIR AG's sorting process is now materially recycled. A joint pilot project with Polyrecycling is planned for 2026 to develop new recycling technology so PE caps can be processed back into new caps.
• Sereo AGkeyImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSereo AG provides external sales staff and field consultation for PET-Recycling Schweiz. Regional account managers (Hans Mannhart for Northwest Switzerland/Zurich/Eastern Switzerland/Liechtenstein; Bastien Loup for Western Switzerland/Valais; Gaetano Peloso for Bern/Central Switzerland/Graubünden/Ticino) provide advisory consultations to municipalities and organizations interested in establishing PET collection points.
• CarbotechkeyImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCarbotech is an environmental consulting firm that provides the methodology and calculations for the environmental benefit data (ökobilanz/LCA) published by PET-Recycling Schweiz. Carbotech calculates the energy saved per recycled PET bottle and publishes fact sheets. Carbotech also supports PET-Recycling Schweiz in monitoring and verifying progress toward its Paris climate targets.
• Swiss ClimatekeyImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSwiss Climate climate experts support and control PET-Recycling Schweiz in monitoring and verifying progress toward its Paris Agreement-aligned 1.5°C climate targets, complementing the work of Carbotech.
• IGSU (IG Bodenverwertung / Swiss Littering Competence Center)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerPET-Recycling Schweiz is part of IGSU, the Swiss Competence Center Against Littering, which addresses the problem of waste in public spaces. IGSU promotes environmental cleanliness and engages stakeholders in anti-littering efforts.
• BAFU (Swiss Federal Office for the Environment)keyOthersBAFU calculates the official annual PET recycling rate for Switzerland and collaborated with PET-Recycling Schweiz, the 'Municipal Infrastructure' organization of the Swiss Cities Association, and the Swiss Municipalities Association to develop a cost model for municipal PET collection compensation.
• Swiss Cities Association and Swiss Municipalities AssociationminorOthersCollaborated with BAFU and PET-Recycling Schweiz to develop the cost model for compensating municipalities for PET collection at their waste and recycling yards.
• BLV (Swiss Federal Office for Food Safety and Veterinary Affairs)coreOthersBLV sets and monitors the highest safety and hygiene standards that R-PET must meet for use in food-grade beverage bottle production. All R-PET produced in Swiss recycling facilities must comply with BLV food safety requirements.
• Swiss Beverage Manufacturers (SQS-certified)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBeverage manufacturers in Switzerland who use R-PET in their bottle production and hold SQS certification. Some manufacturers have achieved 100% R-PET content in their bottles. These manufacturers form the demand side of the closed bottle-to-bottle loop, purchasing R-PET produced from collected Swiss PET bottles.
• Two Swiss PET Recycling PlantscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTwo Swiss PET recycling facilities (in addition to the three sorting centers) process sorted PET bottles into R-PET flakes and granulates. These facilities meet BLV food safety standards and produce food-grade recycled PET for the closed bottle-to-bottle loop. R-PET is processed through quality control, shredding into flakes, washing (caps removed via float-sink), optical flake sorting, melting into granulate, and crystallization.
• Rossi's (Francesco Rossi)minorOthersFrancesco Rossi is a Swiss designer/couturier who pioneered the conversion of recycled PET bottles into fashion accessories. His company 'Rossi's' has been producing bags and accessories from recycled PET bottles since 2008, using the 'I was a bottle' slogan. While not an official commercial partner, his work exemplifies the downstream applications of PET recycling beyond the bottle-to-bottle loop.

Scale indicators23 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Reloop Platform: International non-profit advocating for circular economy policy and high-quality recycling systems, including beverage container deposit-return and PRO models. Operates in the same ecosystem as PRS but as an advocacy/policy organization rather than a collection operator.
• Müller Recycling AG: Swiss PET sorting center operator running one of PRS's three sorting facilities at 150,000 bottles/hour with 99.9% purity. Direct operational partner and infrastructure peer within the Swiss PET loop, but not a competitor.
• TOMRA Systems: Global leader in reverse vending machines for deposit-return schemes and a major provider of post-consumer sorting technology. Operates the competing DRS model that PRS's voluntary system is built against; the technology supplier to many PET sorting facilities globally.
• CarbonLite Recycler (historical reference): US-based independent food-grade R-PET producer that operated closed-loop bottle-to-bottle plants at scale. Useful analogue for the production economics of food-grade R-PET, though it filed for restructuring in 2024.

Broad incumbents

• Indorama Ventures (IVL): World's largest PET and R-PET producer, operating mechanical and advanced recycling facilities globally. Buys and supplies post-consumer PET bales; directly comparable as an R-PET manufacturer but operates at vastly larger scale across many countries.
• Citeo: France's PRO for household packaging recycling, operating at much larger scale across multiple materials (paper, plastic, metal, glass). Comparable in mandated-PRO structure and member-fee funding, but materially broader in scope than PRS.
• Duales System Deutschland / Grüner Punkt: Germany's PRO for sales packaging under the Packaging Act, operating the Green Dot licensing system. Comparable mandated-PRO architecture to PRS but covers all packaging materials and a far larger population and throughput.

Emerging players

• ALPLA Werke: Austrian-headquartered global plastic packaging manufacturer producing PET preforms and bottles, increasingly investing in R-PET integration. Comparable on the R-PET-to-preform processing step that PRS also performs internally.

Direct peers

• RecyPET (Forum PET Deutschland): German industry initiative for PET beverage bottle recycling, operating a similar voluntary collection-to-R-PET model. Closest national-level peer to PRS in terms of mission, model, and beverage-industry funding structure.
• Petcore Europe: Pan-European PET industry association coordinating PET recycling and promoting bottle-to-bottle loops. Direct analogue of PRS at the EU level, sharing the mandated-PRO, value-chain-funded model and food-grade R-PET advocacy.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/recyclingschweiz
• Xx.com/pet_recycling
• Facebookfacebook.com/petrecycling.schweiz
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pet-recycling-schweiz

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Pet Recycling