Over the past five years, approximately 1.8 million pairs of skis and ski boots, 2.3 million pairs of ski poles, and 1.4 million ski helmets have been sold in Austria. These sports equipment items are typically disposed of as waste at the end of their lifespan, even though valuable raw materials for new products could be obtained through recycling. To tap into this resource within their own country, Austria's leading winter sports equipment manufacturers, under the guidance of ecoplus Kunststoff-Cluster in Lower Austria, have come together in a previously unique collaboration and are working together with companies in the plastic industry to embark on large-scale recycling of used winter sports equipment.

Made in Austria

Winter sports equipment

The essential goals of the project, funded by the state of Lower Austria and the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG), are, on the one hand, the establishment of an appropriate collection system and, on the other hand, the analysis and evaluation of processing options for used winter sports equipment to reintegrate the highest possible percentage of valuable materials back into the cycle. Through five specific case studies, economically, ecologically, and socially meaningful circular models will be developed.

PROJECT WINTRUST

Made in Austria

Winter sports equipment

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