September 20, 2024
Olten The newly launched "Circular Quest" scavenger hunt, which starts at Olten railroad station and ends at the municipal depot, takes around two hours. The focus at all intermediate stops is on the circular economy. This aims to use resources efficiently and minimize waste by keeping materials and products in the economic cycle for as long as possible.
Mark Montalbo from the Future Perfect association welcomed around 60 people to the Circular Quest opening event at Werkhof Olten. Among them were interested parties from the education sector, the public sector and the Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN). Future Perfect is committed to promoting education for sustainable development and developed the scavenger hunt. "We want to show what contribution each and every one of us can make on a small scale and in our everyday lives," explained project manager Selina Reusser. That's why it was also important to include existing examples such as the "Marktecke" or the second-hand store "Hinterhof Olten" directly in the treasure hunt. The latter had already successfully integrated the circular economy into their business models. In addition to private individuals and companies, the scavenger hunt, which works via an app, is aimed in particular at (vocational) schools. Further branches of Circular Quest are already being planned in Dietikon, Aarau and Zurich.
The fact that the circular economy has only sporadically arrived in everyday life is also shown by the figures presented by Anja Christina Siffert, research associate at the FOEN, at the opening. SMEs make up 99 percent of all companies in Switzerland. However, according to a 2021 study by the Bern University of Applied Sciences and ETH Zurich, only around 10 percent of them pursue circular business models. As a result, the FOEN itself commissioned a study to find out what the biggest hurdles and success factors are in this regard. The latter include industry-wide cooperation, the pursuit of a clear vision and the presence of the company in a good location. For Switzerland in particular, as a country with few resources, the circular economy is also a particularly interesting topic in terms of security of supply.
City President Thomas Marbet emphasized in his speech that the Olten works yard is always a pioneer in various recycling measures. For example, the city of Olten was the first to offer the option of having plastic waste collected directly from home on cargo bikes. In general, the public sector plays a major role in the circular economy. The city of Olten has committed to various measures in connection with CO₂ reduction. "By 2029, emissions should be halved and by 2040 we want to be completely emission-free," says Marbet.
For Patagonia, a company for durable, multifunctional outdoor clothing and equipment, the circular economy has long been an integral part of its business model. "Our mission is to save the planet," explained Vanessa Rueber, Environmental and Marketing Coordinator at Patagonia Switzerland, at the opening event. All of the company's products come with an "uncompromising guarantee". Anyone who is dissatisfied with a purchased product will have it repaired, exchanged or the purchase price refunded. Since 1985, the company has also committed to donating at least 1% of its turnover to the protection and preservation of the environment.
Martin Räber, Managing Director of Future Perfect, provided information on education for sustainable development, or ESD for short: "Business models with circular products will be even more necessary in the future, and this will require appropriate skills." These would include critical-constructive thinking, the ability to cooperate and specialist skills. Added value that ESD sometimes offers: a reduction in operating costs, independence from foreign countries in matters of resources and the development of new business opportunities. "Vocational education and training plays an enormously important role in all of this," says Räber. In this respect, Switzerland's dual education system is an advantage that generates additional innovative strength.
