Switzerland considers stockpiling plastic granulate as raw material shortages intensify

31 May 2022 --- Switzerland is considering stockpiling plastic granulate for packaging amid growing concerns of raw material shortages. With the country being “highly dependent” on plastic packaging imports, raw material stockpiling had already been a consideration prior to the war in Ukraine. The country now plans to conduct reviews and assessments of what products to include in the country’s compulsory stocks.

“Around 1 million 1 L disinfectant bottles can be produced with the plastic granulate from the compulsory stocks. Since the range of goods is oriented toward vital goods, disinfectant bottles are a priority. Other types of bottles for other uses could also be produced, for example, for cleaning agents or shower gels,” a spokesperson at the Swiss Federal Office for National Economic Supply (FONES) tells PackagingInsights.

“The reviews and assessments of compulsory stocks will take place in 2023. The inclusion of new goods in the range of compulsory stocks or the decision to increase stock levels requires a Federal Council decree and a new ordinance,” says the FONES spokesperson.

Until now, the government has only stockpiled plastic to produce disinfectant bottles. “With the experiences from the pandemic, as well as the changed availabilities and strong price developments, the needs are being reviewed,” FONES told Swiss newspaper NZZ am Sonntag. 

Previously, the government has only stockpiled plastic for producing disinfectant bottles. Rising raw material prices
The Ukraine war is causing a meteoric rise in prices for aluminum, tinplate and various types of plastic, reports NZZ am Sonntag. Furthermore, Switzerland is “highly dependent” on foreign countries for packaging, which can cause issues in emergencies as unpackaged products can spoil before they reach the consumer.

“However, raw material for producing plastic packaging was already included in Switzerland’s compulsory stocks before the Ukraine war,” asserts the FONES spokesperson. 

PE and PS could now be included in the compulsory stock range. Supermarket Migros has already said it is open to the proposal: “We welcome the effort to strengthen Swiss national supply,” it told the newspaper.

Stockpiling plastic granulate
The FONES spokesperson explains the idea would not be to hold stocks of packaging material as such, but plastic granulate. “Indeed plastic granulate already forms part of Switzerland’s compulsory stocks. This falls under the category of supplementary compulsory stocks.”

“The composition of the compulsory stock assortment and coverage of demand are reviewed regularly. This can then lead, for example, to the inclusion of a new product, as was recently the case with seed.” PE and PS could now also be included in the compulsory stock range.

“The range of goods, not only that held by industry, is regularly reviewed. The assessment of compulsory stocks held by industry from the 2019 report on compulsory stocks is prepared every four years,” adds the FONES spokesperson. 

German glass shortages
In a similar development, the German Brewers’ Association (GBA) warned there could be a shortage of beer bottles this summer amid rising production costs and a lack of lorry drivers. PackagingInsights spoke with Nina Göllinger, GBA’s press officer, about the shortages and underlying issues. 

Meanwhile, machine producers in the EU face significant problems as the raw materials needed for production are booming in price, along with soaring energy costs in the assembly process. 

By Natalie Schwertheim