October 16, 2025
Temporary infrastructure - designed to be permanently sustainable
The 2025 Swiss Wrestling and Alpine Festival (ESAF) in Mollis was not only a great sporting achievement, but also an innovative contribution to the circular economy. As part of a pilot project, the plastic pipes used in the construction of the temporary infrastructure were dismantled, collected and recycled according to type.
Living the circular economy on the construction site
The focus was on several hundred meters of plastic pipes, which did not end up as waste after the festival, but were instead systematically transferred to the recycling process. The companies involved - from the installation company to the collection point to the recycling company - have impressively demonstrated that circular solutions can also be implemented practically and efficiently for large-scale events.
Coordination across the entire value chain
The project was implemented and supported as part of the Swiss Plastic Pipe Recycling (SPPR) industry initiative. It shows how clear responsibilities, forward-looking planning and good cooperation along the value chain can create functioning take-back systems for plastic pipes.
A project with a signal effect
The Swiss Plastic Recyclers Association (VSPR) supports such practical examples as an important impetus for the further development of the plastics recycling industry in Switzerland. The project at ESAF 2025 shows that sustainability in the construction industry does not end with permanent infrastructures, but begins where conscious decisions are made.
