IQ Sensor Net – almost 100 % recyclable packaging

5/10/2024 | Dr. Patrick Wolf

Avoiding plastic and packaging waste is an everyday issue. Xylem Analytics Germany is also facing up to this challenge and packaging the IQ Sensor Net sustainably.

Reform at EU level

With the aim of reducing packaging waste in the European Union by 15 % by 2040 compared to 2018, the new version of the EU Packaging Regulation calls for a shift towards recyclable packaging. The European Parliament has already adopted the regulation.¹

Sustainability at Xylem

The negative effects of plastic on the environment and the human organism are well known and receive a lot of attention both in research and in public perception. Whether it's recyclable packaging, an EU-wide ban on plastic straws and disposable tableware or the removal of microplastics from water - the topics surrounding the issue are diverse.

Xylem has also set itself the goal of reducing waste as part of its sustainability program:

„Improving waste and packaging disposal practices at some major facilities increased the total quantity of waste recycled by 18.6 % and reduced the total waste sent to landfill by about 18.2 % in the same period."²

IQ Sensor Net recyclable packaging

IQ Sensor Net products have always been packed in cardboard boxes and paper (e.g. paper padding instead of bubble wrap). The sensor packaging does not contain any plastic, with some unavoidable exceptions.

In recent years, the proportion of plastic packaging for converters and modules has also been reduced in several stages thanks to initiatives by our employees in production, development, and product management. For example, enclosed small parts were already combined into one bag in 2021, reducing packaging waste by 26,000 plastic bags and 900 meters of tubular film per year.

At the beginning of 2024, this remaining bag was converted to a recyclable cardboard box. This reduces plastic consumption by a further 9,000 bags per year.

Conclusion

Our contribution to a better future is manifold - from the continuous monitoring of water quality with the IQ Sensor Net, to recyclable packaging, to social commitment with our WATERMARK-program.