Switzerland only reuses 7% of virgin materials - CGR Switzerland 2023

After more than a year of intensive collaboration, we launched the Circularity Gap Report Switzerland 2023. Based on a global methodology, the report allows us to understand and compare, how much of virgin materials are being reused in Switzerland economy.

In theory, 93.1% is the potential to be reused, but this includes one-third of reserves and stocks which is infrastructure induced by our growth. But if we only look at non-circular inputs and biomass, we see an opportunity to become quickly much better. This is not only an environmental imperative, but also a business opportunity. Use longer (repair), use again (take back, rental) and make clean (move away from non-circular inputs) is something consumers appreciate.

A fact that influences Switzerland's circularity massively is our high import-quota. With an import footprint of about 140 megatonnes, taming the supply chain is an extremely important task. Only looking at our geographic perimeter covers only a too small part of our doings.

In an orchestrated effort of over a hundred partners and experts, we aim to reduce the swiss material footprint per capita by 60% (to maximum 8 tonnes per capita, which is considered within a sustainable and just level by leading research) and to reduce the Swiss carbon (CO2e) footprint by 90% (in line with the SBT’s Net-Zero Standard and the 1.5°C objective set by the UN-Paris agreement/COP26) by 2050.

Do you want to learn more or even join one of the roadmaps to change? Start by reading the report.

Download CGR Switzerland 2023