Student Plastics Challenge: How do growth and the circular economy match up?
In January 2024, the "Student Plastics Challenge" of Teach For Austria took place at the JKU in Linz and Florian Aschermayer was a challenge donor on
It was that time again: the “Student Plastics Challenge” organized by Teach For Austria took place at the JKU in Linz – just like last year. At this event, students work on challenges from companies in groups. Florian Aschermayer (Global Senior Expert Sustainable Material Excellence, Greiner Packaging) was this year’s challenge sponsor on behalf of Greiner. To find out more about the background, we spoke to Florian about the challenge on growth and the circular economy.
For the Student Plastics Challenge event, you asked the students of the JKU Linz for solutions to generate growth in a circular economy. Why exactly this challenge?
“Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” are the guiding principles of the circular economy – in that order. As a company in international competition, we have set ourselves ambitious targets to reduce our footprint. This involves an apparent loss of value (“less material = lower price”). Accordingly, it is highly relevant for us to generate added value for ourselves and our customers in order to continue to grow as a company. I deliberately asked the students a rather difficult, almost philosophical question. This discussion requires a certain amount of foresight – without the apparent limits of our own company’s imagination.
Why is the exchange with students so important for us as a company?
This is easy to answer: unbiased brainstorming by a diverse team of students brings a breath of fresh air.
What results did the students come to? What solutions are there to generate growth as a company in a circular economy?
The students outlined a solution in which packaging material retains a certain value at the end of its life cycle – a single-origin recyclable material if it is collected separately. Their idea was that customers could return the packaging to retailers via an incentive system similar to a deposit system. This would make it easier to maintain the material cycle and reduce the cost of purchasing recyclates for Greiner. A cooperation with the supermarket would also benefit the supermarket through higher sales. Of course, these are only concepts and no business case has been calculated in the short time available. The idea itself is a good example of how we could change our view of the value chain.
What is your answer to the question of whether there can be growth in a circular economy?
If you want to answer the question in general terms, you can simply say “yes”. Of course there can be growth in a circular economy. Especially for those companies that throw the linear economic model overboard as early as possible and generate new value for customers. There are many opportunities once the value chain is closed into a cycle. In the end, it will not just be a cycle, but a real network of partnerships with the most diverse participants in the value chain. One example was presented by the students, and many more are currently being evaluated at Greiner Packaging.
The winners of the Student Plastics Challenge
As part of the event on January 22, the students presented their results to a jury. Christoph Zipko (Senior Venture & Business Model Manager, Greiner Innoventures) represented Greiner as a member of the jury. In addition to Greiner, RICO, Erema, Engel and NGR were also part of the event. The winners of the Student Plastics Challenge were the group with the question posed by Greiner. Christoph was so impressed by their results that Greiner Innoventures and Greiner Packaging have arranged a follow-up appointment with the students. Congratulations on winning!
