From Waste to Resource – A Success Story in the Circular Economy
Interview with Dirk Kopplow, CEO, and Benjamin Fiekens, Sales of GVÖ Gebinde-Verwertungsgesellschaft der Mineralölwirtschaft mbH
The circular economy is no longer just an ecological ideal – it's a central economic factor. Rising raw material prices, stricter environmental laws, and growing awareness of sustainable action are fundamentally changing the industry. Packaging, once considered waste, is now valued as a secondary raw material. Especially in industries with technically demanding products, such as the mineral oil industry, responsible packaging management has become a key task. A company that has been actively shaping this change for three decades is GVÖ Gebinde-Verwertungsgesellschaft der Mineralölwirtschaft mbH.
When the Packaging Ordinance was introduced in the early 1990s, the petroleum industry was also faced with new tasks. The solution: in 1995, 33 companies founded the GVÖ Gebinde-Verwertungsgesellschaft der Mineralölwirtschaft mbH to dispose of packaging from the sector in a legally compliant and resource-saving manner. "The petroleum industry recognized early on that it had to take responsibility," explains Dirk Kopplow, managing director of GVÖ since 2016. "Even before producer responsibility was legally anchored, we were already practicing it."
Pioneering work for sustainable disposal
Today, GVÖ, with 39 shareholders, is the largest industry joint venture of its kind worldwide. For Benjamin Fiekens, who works in sales, the appeal of the job lies in its meaningfulness: "We deal with problematic materials such as oil or coolant containers – and ensure that they do not become an environmental burden. This has real added value." GVÖ's main task is the return of empty containers – packaging from lubricants, brake fluids, or coolants – and their reintroduction into the material cycle. Plastic and metal containers are collected separately, shredded, washed, and processed into new raw material. "We have over 35,000 collection points nationwide, from gas stations to industrial operations, and organize about 24,000 pickups per year," explains Dirk Kopplow. "The transparent collection bags ensure that only emptied, undamaged packaging is returned." The processed material then finds a variety of uses – such as in lawn grids, sewage pipes, or roof coverings. "This not only saves primary resources but also CO2," says Dirk Kopplow. For Benjamin Fiekens, the appeal of the job also lies in the diversity: "I experience new businesses, people, and ideas every day – from the small workshop to the large operation. Everywhere you can see how the circular economy works."
Innovation with purpose and system
With just six employees and a turnover of about 5.5 million EUR, GVÖ operates efficiently but is closely networked with specialized partners. Currently, the company is advancing a project together with the plastics industry, where a regranulate is produced from the ground material – a homogeneous plastic that is to be used again in new oil containers. "Our vision is to make new containers from old ones," says Dirk Kopplow. "The challenge lies in completely removing the oil smell from the material. But we are on a good path with our partners." Benjamin Fiekens adds: "This shows that a circular economy is not just theory but a lived practice. When waste turns back into a valuable raw material, real progress is made."
Community as a Model for Success
A central recipe for success of the GVÖ is its structure: It is a society of the petroleum industry - for the petroleum industry. "Our shareholders carry the responsibility both organizationally and financially," explains Dirk Kopplow. "This creates trust and allows us to purchase disposal services at particularly favorable conditions." About 150 license partners – with sub-licensing, around 250 companies – use the system. "A single company could never achieve the same quantities and thus the same prices," says Dirk Kopplow. "The community is our greatest strength." The system is also established in the market. "It happens that tenders require participation in the GVÖ system," reports Dirk Kopplow. Fiekens adds: "Our partners know that they are part of a functioning community that takes responsibility seriously. This is more important today than ever."
The Future Under the New EU Regulation
Currently, the GVÖ is focusing on the new European Packaging Regulation (PPWR), which will come into effect in 2025. It mandates that from 2030 onwards, plastic packaging must contain at least 30% recycled material. "This affects not only the petroleum industry but everyone who puts packaging into circulation," warns Dirk Kopplow. "Companies should prepare early." Benjamin Fiekens emphasizes: "Many underestimate how profound the new requirements are. Those who act now will gain clear competitive advantages – and show that sustainability is not only a duty but an attitude." For the GVÖ, the PPWR is both a confirmation and a motivation. "We have been living producer responsibility for 30 years," says Kopplow. "We stand for a circular economy that works – efficient, practical, and forward-looking." The GVÖ Gebinde-Verwertungsgesellschaft der Mineralölwirtschaft mbH demonstrates how economy and sustainability can complement each other. What started as an industry initiative in 1995 is today a successful model of lived responsibility. Or, as Dirk Kopplow says: "We ensure that waste is turned back into value – in the interest of the environment, the companies, and the future." And Benjamin Fiekens adds: "This is real circular economy – sensible, practical, and sustainable."