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Facts from the world of plastic recycling

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A landfill site with shredded waste sets and plastic packaging remnants. An incinerator with a smoking chimney can be seen in the background. Birds circle above.
Hard facts: humans have already generated more than 7 billion tonnes of plastic waste. 79% of it ends up in landfills or in the environment. Some 73% of the world's beach litter is plastic. Source: National Geographic
A landfill site with shredded waste sets and plastic packaging remnants. An incinerator with a smoking chimney can be seen in the background. Birds circle above.
Hard facts: humans have already generated more than 7 billion tonnes of plastic waste. 79% of it ends up in landfills or in the environment. Some 73% of the world's beach litter is plastic. Source: National Geographic

Circular economy

9. December 2024
 | Dominik Dörig

Theory and Practice Combined

How can the economic, social and environmental aspects of plastic-to-oil recycling be demonstrated? How can they be made quantifiable? These and many other questions have been intriguing us in recent years. Luckily, we had the good fortune of meeting Professor Joachim Vogt in 2022. He had been asking himself the same questions – and the idea for an Innosuisse study was born.
5. December 2024
 | Daria Baur

Pyrolysis and Walter Kaminsky's Legacy

Pyrolysis can play a key role in overcoming modern-day environmental problems. It allows waste to be converted into valuable raw materials, ensuring it does not end up in an incinerator or landfill. And this is exactly the process that we utilise in our systems. While pyrolysis has ancient origins, a significant part of its development is credited to the German chemist Walter Kaminsky, who passed away recently.
2 June 2024
 | Ben Richters

Reaching the Goal Together

All too often it's about being the best. But in a new market, competitors should work together to get ahead. A lesson in why good business relationships are important.
2 June 2024
 | Ben Richters

Pyrolysis: Someone Has to Start

The second pyrolysis plant in Australia will soon be up and running at the waste disposal company APR, the market leader for recyclable products. This is the story of an entrepreneur on the other side of the world.
1 June 2024
 | Cyrill Hugi

Circular Economy: This is how it Works

Have you ever thought about what happens to your old toothbrush? Reuse is out of the question. Nevertheless, it can become a toothbrush again, or a watering can, or trainers or an eraser. That's the circular economy. I learnt how it works on a field of sunflowers. In Bulgaria.
31 May 2024
 | Cyrill Hugi

A World Without Plastic

Clean beaches, rivers and streams. Free from plastic waste. No animals dying because we humans simply dump our rubbish in the environment. That is our vision. enespa is helping to remove waste from nature and recycle it. Together with many like-minded campaigners, this vision will become reality.

Milestones

27. January 2025
 | Dominik Dörig

Teamwork on the plant project for AdBlue®

Before commencing our AdBlue® production, we designed and constructed the production plant. This plant engineering project marked an inaugural collaboration between staff from our Tangstedt and Bernsdorf sites.
13 August 2024
 | Dominik Dörig

Distillation Plant as a Reference Project for Oil Refining

Our plant engineering team in Tangstedt has designed, planned and built a distillation plant for our Hoyerswerda site. With an oil refining capacity of 10 tonnes per day, this reference project represents a significant upgrade for the site.
23 July 2024
 | Dominik Dörig

New Experts on Board

Good specialists are hard to find. We are therefore proud that we have been able to recruit so many. Since this spring, we have benefitted from reinforcements in key areas. Get to know our experts.
1 June 2024
 | Ben Richters

Transporting of a Large Plant

When designing the systems, long before the first weld seam, we make sure that our machines fit into the container dimensions. This is necessary because every mile on the road would cost 800,000 dollars.
31 May 2024
 | Cyrill Hugi

From 0 to 50 employees

50 employees - one common mission: the fight against plastic pollution in nature. Each and every one of them a specialist in their field. Together we work on new, innovative solutions. We undertake research and development, are pioneers and shape the industry as first movers. Praise for my employees.

Hard (and soft) facts

23. November 2024
 | Dominik Dörig

Our measures to combat greenwashing

Companies in the circular economy are often hit with the accusation of greenwashing. Our measure to combat this: transparency. We are a technology provider and not greener than any other company. Our business model is based on the sustainable recycling of waste materials. This is obviously good for the environment but also for our business.
23. October 2024
 | Ben Richters

Plastoil: Our Partner Down Under

REDcycle, an Australian soft plastics collection and recycling program, was launched in 2011. After much confusion and various scandals, the system collapsed in 2022. A practical solution to this problem had to be found urgently. This is where our Australian business partner Plastoil came to the fore.
17 July 2024
 | Dominik Dörig

Laboratory: Small Things that Make a Big Difference

It's often the little things that can make a big difference. In our high-tech laboratory, Dr Albert Paparo, who holds a doctorate in natural sciences, works with just such small things: molecules.
1 June 2024
 | Cyrill Hugi

Why Fishermen Fish Plastic

No one can achieve great things alone. Not even us. That's why we're joining forces with real movers and shakers like the BioDesign Foundation to rid the Mediterranean of plastic. To great success.
1 June 2024
 | Cyrill Hugi

What I Would do Differently

Every entrepreneur has the experience that most people don't believe in the business idea at first.
31 May 2024
 | Cyrill Hugi

Why enespa is Called «enespa»

It could also have been Cyrill Hugi AG. But I didn't want that. So in 2004, enespa started with a better-sounding name and a different business idea than it has today. This is the prehistory of enespa as it exists today.
30 May 2024
 | Cyrill Hugi

How Does an Acceptance Test Work?

What all innovations have in common: they pose major challenges for the authorities.

All about enespa

29. January 2025
 | Dominik Dörig

New COO Joachim Vogt

Joachim Vogt is set to become COO in February 2025. In this role, he will assume the responsibilities of COO Stefan Abele, who passed away at the end of last year, and oversee business development of the individual divisions.
9 July 2024
 | Dominik Dörig

An Employer with a Future

What does it mean to work at enespa? Above all, it means working in a team, because the challenges we face are too big for lone wolves. Flat hierarchies and short decision-making paths make this possible, while at the same time offering plenty of room for personal development in a family atmosphere.
1 June 2024
 | Cyrill Hugi

Why I Rely on AdBlue®

Cyrill Hugi makes it clear: "I'm not green. Would it be better if our cars and lorries didn't run on diesel? Sure. But as long as we still have diesel engines on our roads, I want to do something."
29 May 2024
 | Cyrill Hugi

The history of enespa: how it all began

The story of enespa began over 20 years ago over dinner. A vision of a world free of plastic waste was born around the table. As a specialist in chemical recycling, we are helping to solve this problem.

Our authors

Portrait of Cyrill Hugi
Author
Portrait of Cyrill Hugi
Founder, Chief Executive Officer
Cyrill Hugi's passion for technology has never wavered since his first apprenticeship. Various international training programmes have seen him travel as far as the USA. His professional career has taken him to Italy and Germany, where he previously held management positions in major global corporations in the commercial vehicle sector. Cyrill Hugi fulfilled a dream when he founded enespa ag. With the support of his team and visionary investors, he strives to «make the impossible possible». The outcome is circular economy solutions aimed at protecting nature, which is something very close to his heart.
Portraitbild Daria Baur
Author
Portraitbild Daria Baur
Corporate Communications Manager
After gaining a master's degree in Communication and Media Research from the University of Fribourg, Daria acquired valuable experience in agency work, in university marketing and, most recently, in communications for an international NGO. These diverse roles have provided her with extensive insight into both strategic and operational communication processes. At enespa, she contributes her expertise as Project Manager Corporate Communication, ensuring that messages are conveyed clearly and effectively.
Portrait of Ben Richters
Author
Portrait of Ben Richters
Chief Technology Officer
After completing his technical training and gaining initial professional experience in the automotive sector, Ben Richters transitioned into mechanical engineering. As a graduate engineer, he shifted his focus to plant engineering, particularly in the field of petrochemical industry. In 2015, he became an entrepreneur in the green tech circular economy industry. He joined enespa in mid-2022 as the developer of the enespa pyrolysis plant prototype. Outside of work, he finds balance in timber construction. He loves spending time with his family at the harbour in Hamburg.
Portrait of Ben Richters
Author
Portrait of Ben Richters
Member of the Board of Directors
After completing his technical training and gaining initial professional experience in the automotive sector, Ben Richters transitioned into mechanical engineering. As a graduate engineer, he shifted his focus to plant engineering, particularly in the field of petrochemical industry. In 2015, he became an entrepreneur in the green tech circular economy industry. He joined enespa in mid-2022 as the developer of the enespa pyrolysis plant prototype. Outside of work, he finds balance in timber construction. He loves spending time with his family at the harbour in Hamburg.
Portrait Dr. Albert Paparo
Head of Research & Development
Leiter Forschung und Entwicklung
As a chemist with a PhD, Albert Paparo focuses on developing processes for the pyrolysis of plastics, hydrogenation and distillation. He has established an analytical laboratory that expands the range of physico-chemical parameters that can be measured. Albert prepares his analysis reports in accordance with ISO/IEC 17025 and ISO 9001. "Never give up, never give in, never surrender" is his motto in life, which perfectly reflects his curiosity and perseverance. Outside the lab, he enjoys being a family man, eagerly anticipating playtime and fun with his children.
Author
Head of Corporate Communications
Christoph Ottiger was the owner, managing director and strategic consultant of the St.Gallen brand agency Kernbrand. The qualified PR specialist with an Executive Master of Science in Communications Management has been active in the vast field of brand management and corporate communications for over 20 years. Today, he advises and supports clients from many different industries on positioning and strengthening their brands and on developing and managing corporate communications. At enespa, he is in charge of corporate communications and is involved in various marketing and communications projects.
Author
Specialist Corporate Communication
Contact Media Relations
Armed with a degree in Organisational Communication and Journalism, Dominik Dörig gained valuable experience working at an agency. He brought his experience in marketing, public relations and event management into the SME sector. After a decade working as a communications manager and management assistant, he joined the Marcom team at enespa in Appenzell in the autumn of 2023.

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The road to a circular economy for plastics is a long one. However, we are not travelling this path alone, but together with you. Celebrate with us when we come one step closer to our goal.

 
 
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Subscribe to our media newsletter

The road to a circular economy for plastics is a long one. However, we are not travelling this path alone, but together with you. Celebrate with us when we come one step closer to our goal.

 
 
* Unsubscribing from the newsletter is possible at any time.