Our Contribution to Zero Waste of Resources
With our solutions, we help companies to minimize their ecological footprint and maximize their economic performance. PreZero is a partner for sustainable management through the circular economy.
Our aim is to use resources efficiently and close recycling loops in an economically viable manner. We produce recycled raw materials, generate energy and create innovative packaging solutions, and in doing so, reduce carbon emissions.
We achieve this by contributing to the supply of raw materials and energy with our lower-emission products, reducing material expenses and disposal costs through our consulting services and generating income from the sale of recyclable materials.
10
Countries
≈ 470
Locations
168
Sorting and Recycling Facilities
3.9 billion €
in Revenue
Sustainability Actions by our Countries
Our Strategic Goal – And How We Are Working Toward It Sustainably
We want to be the preferred partner in the circular economy by 2030. To achieve this, we create sustainable solutions with added value across four focus areas and, as a company of Schwarz Group, contribute to achieving an SBTi-validated net-zero target by 2050. Specifically, we coordinate our efforts together in the following key areas:
Our Contribution to Zero Waste of Resources
Measurable Success
We use validated key performance indicators to measure our success on the journey to zero waste of resources.
Note on the review of selected CR key figures:
CR key figures marked with an asterisk (*) on this page have already been audited with a limited assurance as part of the PreZero Group audit. More detailed information on the audited key figures and further explanations can be found in the
General information on auditing can be found here.
Our Carbon Footprint
The transition to a climate-neutral economy requires specific measures and measurable progress. On the one hand, PreZero sees climate protection as the result of its work: By creating lower-emission products and services, we enable our customers to improve their carbon footprint.
On the other hand, we attach great importance to designing our own processes so that emissions caused by our business operation – through vehicles, energy consumption or waste incineration – are minimized.
Systematic emissions management allows us to create transparency regarding our carbon footprint and also identify specific levers for reducing it.
The circular economy not only offers ecological and economic benefits but also holds significant potential for climate protection. According to a study by the European Waste Management Association (FEAD), consistent implementation of EU waste legislation could save around 150 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents annually by 2035.
PreZero actively contributes to these goals – particularly through the production of high-quality recyclates and the provision of renewable energy.
A calculation of the Product Carbon Footprint of our recyclates by the Fraunhofer Institute UMSICHT shows: Common plastic recyclates (PS, PP, HDPE, MPO) have at least 50% lower CO₂ footprint compared to virgin materials.
PreZero Carbon Footprint for the 2024 Fiscal Year
In the current fiscal year, we are continuing on our journey toward net zero. The carbon footprint clearly shows in which areas emissions are generated.
Targeted measures in logistics, energy supply and process optimization have enabled us, as companies of the PreZero Group, to further reduce our CO2e emissions and consistently pursue our environmental goals.
Our carbon footprint is based on the internationally recognized Greenhouse Gas Protocol standard. Emissions are recorded across all three scopes:
- Scope 1 – direct emissions, e.g., from the operation of our facilities and vehicle fleet
- Scope 2 – indirect emissions from purchased electricity and heat
- Scope 3 – upstream and downstream emissions, for example from third-party transportation services, purchased materials or downstream disposal routes
In the 2019 reporting year, we jointly prepared a group-wide, cross-location carbon footprint (in CO2e) for the first time. The insights gained serve as the basis for strategically developing our climate management.
Our common aim is to continuously reduce operational emissions by investing in energy-efficient or innovative technologies, optimizing logistics processes and making a sensible, gradual switch to alternative drive systems and renewable energies. At the same time, we are also working to reduce our upstream and downstream emissions.
The services we provide for our customers make a significant contribution to climate protection. Recycling and technologies for generating energy from waste make it possible to avoid emissions in other parts of the value chain – known as avoided emissions.
These avoided emissions describe the existing delta between the carbon footprint of a conventionally produced good and a product or service from our business activities. Producing plastic from recyclate involves significantly lower emissions than producing the same amount of plastic from oil. This is also the case if fossil fuels are substituted by energy generation from biogenic waste.
We are currently working together on developing an industry-wide standardized methodology for the comprehensible and transparent recording of these climate effects, with the aim of systematically making our contribution to decarbonization visible.
Science-based climate targets provide a solid foundation for our commitment to climate action. In 2020, the companies of the Schwarz Group joined the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), aligning their climate strategy with the goals of the Paris Agreement.
In September 2024, the Schwarz Group companies jointly submitted an official Net-Zero Commitment to the SBTi. With this, they pledge to reduce all greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050 at the latest.
On the path to net zero, the Schwarz Group companies will reduce their operational emissions (Scope 1 and 2) by 48% by 2030, using 2019 as the base year.
In addition, we are enhancing our existing supplier engagement by introducing absolute reduction targets for upstream and downstream value chain emissions (Scope 3) and supporting our suppliers in achieving them. Specifically, this means: A 42.4% reduction in indirect emissions from agriculture and forestry by 2034 (base year: 2022) and a 35% reduction in emissions from energy and industrial processes by the same year.
These new and updated short-term climate targets have been scientifically reviewed, validated, and approved by the SBTi.
Three-Year Trend in PreZero’s Carbon Footprint
Our carbon footprint shows where we are today – and the journey we have already been on. The CO2e emissions of the companies within the PreZero Group were reduced by 23.4 % compared to the 2023 fiscal year.
This decrease is the joint, targeted result of measures to avoid and reduce emissions along our entire value chain as well as improved data quality.
Energy
In total, we generate 3,117,414 MWh* of energy annually through our recovery activities, reducing both our use of and dependence on fossil fuels and imported energy sources.
In doing so, we contribute to ensuring energy security in Europe.
829,442 MWh*
Electricity
1,970,358 MWh*
Heat
333,780 MWh*
Biomethane & Biogas
927,341 MWh*
Renewable Energy
By incinerating the organic components of waste in our facilities, we generate green energy that reduces carbon emissions compared to fossil-based energy production and promote a climate-friendly and resource-conserving energy supply.
Logistics
The fleet of the companies within the PreZero Group has a total of 12,958 vehicles to provide our services efficiently and reliably.
15.2 %
Of our passenger cars and commercial vehicles with a total weight of less than 3.5 metric tons are powered by alternative drive systems.
786
Our fleet includes 786 electric and hydrogen vehicles.
Recyclable Materials
We consider waste to be a valuable resource. In line with the principles of the circular economy, our activities make sure that waste is processed and recycled in an optimal manner.
We contribute to raw material security in Europe by carefully treating 26,824,699 t* of recyclable materials annually in internal and external facilities.
By recycling valuable materials, we are able to reduce the need for new raw materials. New products are then created from these recycled materials.
Sorting
We use internal and external facilities to sort 7,997,284 t* of recyclable materials annually with the aim of sorting the recyclables into the various fractions. The careful separation of material streams during the sorting process forms the basis for the processing and recycling of products.
Recycling
We recycle 7,692,832 t* of recyclable materials annually using internal and external facilities. Recycling includes all recovery processes in which waste is processed into new products or materials.
This also includes the treatment of organic waste (e.g., composting organic waste). During recycling, the sorted recyclable materials are processed into recyclates, which can be reused as raw material.
This recovers valuable resources and reduces the need for new raw materials. The proportion of recycled material streams is (excluding organic waste): **
42.44 %*
Cardboard, paper and cartons
Cardboard, paper and cartons account for a significant proportion of the waste generated. Thanks to our high volume of recycled cardboard, paper and cartons, we are making an important contribution to conserving resources and saving energy.
17.55 %*
Plastics
PreZero Polymers specializes in the recycling of post-consumer plastics, i.e., the production of recyclate from waste generated by end customers. PreZero Polymers develops high-quality, customized recyclates from post-consumer plastic waste, e.g., for use in shampoo bottles, children's toys or household aids.
12.73 %*
Glass
9.71 %*
Mixed construction waste
5.78 %*
Scrap & metal
Recycled Raw Materials
In total, we produce 800,365 t* of recycled raw materials annually in our facilities from the recyclate obtained through recycling.
Our common aim is to produce more and higher quality recycled raw materials that can be processed into new products and therefore returned to the cycle. Recycled raw materials include:
123,702 t*
Plastic
335,570 t*
Glass
22,092 t*
Aluminium
154,204 t*
Compost
149,729 t*
Construction material
Employees
Our almost 30,000 employees across Europe work every day to ensure that raw materials are not lost as waste, but are returned to the material loop. Every single one of them is a #PreZeroHero for us.
We provide information about our colleagues' contribution to the success of the sustainable transformation, for example as part of our employer branding.
19 %
Female quota
10.4 years
Average Length of Service
ISO Management Systems
Through various ISO certifications, we ensure that our processes and products meet the highest quality, environmental and safety requirements.
The chart below illustrates the current status of certifications at the various PreZero locations.
Sustainability, safety, quality, and energy efficiency are not just part of our daily operations – they are systematically integrated into our processes.
Our work is based on internationally recognized management systems and is certified according to:
- ISO 14001 – Environment
- ISO 45001 – Health & Safety
- ISO 9001 – Quality
- ISO 50001 – Energy
These standards form the foundation for our continuous improvement, legal compliance, and the active involvement of all employees. They help us use resources efficiently, minimize risks, and meet the highest quality and safety standards – across Europe and at all our locations.
| Country | ISO Management Systems | |
 | Belgium | ISO 9001, ISO 14001 |
 | Netherlands | ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001 |
 | Sweden | ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001 |
 | Luxembourg | ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001 |
 | Spain | ISO 9001, ISO 14001 |
 | Germany | ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 50001 |
 | Poland | ISO 9001, ISO 14001 |
 | Austria | ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 50001 |
 | Italy | ISO 9001, ISO 14001 |
Our Responsibility
Compliance with applicable laws forms the basis of our sustainable business practices. Throughout our supply chain, we actively promote fair business practices, transparency, good working and living conditions, human rights, and environmentally responsible behavior. Find more information on this topic here.
General information on auditing
Sources for emission factors were analyzed from international organizations (e.g., IEA, IPCC), LCA databases (e.g., Ecoinvent), national institutions (e.g., DBEIS/DEFRA), as well as industry associations and organizations (e.g., Plastics Europe). To ensure comparability with previous years, the most current available emission factors are, in some cases, not utilized for the calculation.
Where current-year data was not available at the time of report preparation, prior-year data has been used as a proxy in accordance with standard reporting practices.
* On this page have already been audited with a limited assurance as part of the PreZero Group audit
** The listed percentage figures are related to the dry processing methods and do not necessarily sum to 100 % as only selected categories have been included in the summary.