Recycling solutions for a sustainable future

WILDPLASTIC® has set itself the goal of ridding the world of “wild” plastic waste and offering innovative recycling solutions. The Germany-based company differentiates its products through the unique use of plastic that is recovered from the environment to be recycled and reused as granulate.

In an interview with K-Mag, Christian Sigmund, CEO & co-founder of WILDPLASTIC®, explains the challenges involved in developing packaging made from wild plastic, how the environmental impact of this packaging compares to conventional solutions and how international cooperation with collection organizations works.

How did the idea for WILDPLASTIC® come about and what was your goal?

Christian Sigmund: On our travels, we stood on the mountains of garbage around the world, and we realized: We can't go on like this. We are extracting more and more fossil fuels from the ground worldwide and making too little use of the available resources. Only 9% of the world's plastic waste is recycled, 12% is incinerated and 79% ends up in the environment. WILDPLASTIC® was founded with the mission of freeing the world from wild plastic waste.

What exactly is WILDPLASTIC® and how does it differ from other types of recycled plastic?

Sigmund: Wild plastics are those plastic products that do not end up in a recycling loop after use but are disposed of in the environment. This includes illegal landfill sites as well as the cityscape and nature. We have established the world's only supply chain for wild plastic and, together with our local partners, we are continuously recovering wild plastic from the environment and returning it to the recycling cycle.

Together with Goldeimer (Website in German), you have found a way to pack toilet paper rolls with WILDPLASTIC®. The development of your packaging solution took a total of three years. What challenges did you face during this process and how did you overcome them?

Sigmund: The challenge is that plastic rescued from the environment is contaminated to varying degrees and the smallest inclusions can quickly cause the new film plastic to tear. A hygienic product requires flawless packaging. The result is high-quality packaging with 50% WILDPLASTIC® and 50% virgin plastic.

What makes WILDPLASTIC® particularly suitable for packaging products, especially in the hygiene sector?

Sigmund: Plastic is basically a good packaging material. The decisive factor is that we use more of what is already there.

The German football team Borussia Dortmund (BVB) also uses WILDPLASTIC® mailing bags for its fan store. How did the cooperation come about?

Sigmund: The lightweight material of our mailing bags can be filled flexibly and is ideal for sending textiles, for example. The mailing bags are 100% recyclable, tear-resistant and water-repellent, and can be labeled and glued. They consist of at least 80% wild plastic and save up to 60% CO2 compared to products made from virgin plastic. Mail order companies - such as the BVB fan store - are thus setting an example for real sustainability.

What specific advantages does the use of WILDPLASTIC® packaging offer for the environment compared to conventional packaging solutions?

Sigmund: WILDPLASTIC® gives wild plastic waste a value again. Even if it seems crazy at first glance: since the extraction of oil and production of new plastic is so CO2 intensive, it is more sustainable to transport and recycle the collected film plastic. In 2023 alone, we returned almost 310 tons of wild plastic to the recycling cycle, saving around 700 tons of CO2. In addition, more than 6,700 days with better working conditions for collectors were made possible.

How does WILDPLASTIC® work with international collection organizations to bring plastic waste from the environment back into the recycling cycle?

Sigmund: We are currently active in India, Indonesia, Thailand and Senegal. In our cooperation, we make sure that the working conditions of collectors are improved. Because the local collection organizations are the real heroes in the plastic crisis. They are in a position to grow and, above all, to grow as a system and thus make a major contribution to solving the problem. The challenge for these organizations is that they are under enormous economic pressure. We at WILDPLASTIC® see informal waste management as a critical system part of the future. We believe that it is urgently needed not only today but also in the future to deal with all the material flows. There is a lack of a system. However, this system must first be financed, and this is only possible if we strengthen those who are already doing it today.

Can you give us an insight into the future plans and visions of WILDPLASTIC®? What other projects are planned?

Sigmund: We won't be able to rid the entire world of wild plastic on our own. That's why we are working with companies such as OTTO, Goldeimer, Hermes Germany and BVB. But WILDPLASTIC® can be so much more. That's why we are always on the lookout for new partners - from large corporations to small mail order companies - who will work with us to take plastic out of the environment. We will also be expanding our product range for private customers.

How do you see the role of WILDPLASTIC® in the global movement towards more sustainability and a circular economy? What message would you like to send to companies and consumers?

Sigmund: We see ourselves as part of many great organizations and companies that are breaking new ground. Because it takes all of us.