© Pipelife Österreich
Why is waste management so important? How does wienerberger tackle plastic waste? Robert Rogina, International Manager Standardization & Quality, has the answers.
Reduce waste by 15 percent in three years – that is just one of the targets in wienerberger’s Sustainability Program 2026. The company saves precious resources by keeping them in circulation. For wienerberger, waste is not a loss in the traditional sense but rather a valuable raw material for creating new products.
Frank Brandenburg, Chief Technology Officer, and Robert Rogina, International Manager Standardization & Quality at wienerberger, are responsible for the waste stream optimization strategy and monitoring the achievement of targets. Robert shares his insights and talks about the future of plastic waste management.
“Efficient waste management enables us to save resources, reduce the volume of waste and keep materials in circulation.”
Robert Rogina: Waste management is a key element of any sustainability strategy because it makes a significant contribution to the circular economy. Efficient management enables us to save resources, reduce the volume of waste and keep materials in circulation. In the Sustainability Program 2026 wienerberger is placing a stronger focus on waste management because we recognize the potential of a functioning circular economy. We want to reduce our ecological footprint by implementing targeted measures such as recycling, reuse and waste reduction.
There are also many developments and initiatives at the EU level to promote the circular economy. These include the EU directives on waste. The intention behind them is to increase recycling rates and reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill. At the same time, funding programs for research and development work on sustainable materials and technologies are being launched.
Robert Rogina: We have implemented a variety of measures for waste management, ranging from the close monitoring of waste flows to the careful separation of recyclable materials. They all have one goal: to increase the proportion of recycled waste and avoid landfill.
The comprehensive system of waste management introduced by wienerberger in Austria is a case in point. This pilot project provides valuable knowledge and experience. The team behind it optimizes internal processes and trains colleagues in sustainable practices. The background: Austria enjoys a special position within the European Union since waste management here is already highly advanced thanks to the Waste Management Act. As a result, our country plays a pioneering role in Europe.
First of all, we performed a detailed analysis of waste flows at the production site belonging to our solutions brand Pipelife in Wiener Neudorf. This data helps us develop targeted measures to avoid waste. The three main types of waste are residual waste, wood and metal. We focused on residual waste and studied it very carefully. This gave us valuable insights into its composition and the potential for further waste reduction. For example, we now pay particular attention to collecting plastic which has enabled us to significantly reduce the volume of residual waste. This saves both resources and disposal costs.
In addition, wienerberger Austria has set up a systematic reporting and monitoring process based on the different categories of waste. The smallest common denominator is the so-called “waste code number.” This is based on EU-wide legally defined waste catalogues and identifies and classifies waste according to categories. It enables us to evaluate and continuously optimize the success of the steps we have taken. The monitoring team produces regular reports that help us to identify developments at an early stage and to gear our activities to them. In future, we will roll out these analyses to seven additional pilot plants. Subsequently, all wienerberger production plants will be incorporated into the monitoring system.
“We are especially proud of the positive results of our waste management pilot project in Austria. This success motivates us to intensify our efforts and to launch similar projects in other regions as well.”
As I said earlier, our overriding aim is to reduce the overall volume of waste and to increase the proportion of material sent for recycling. We have already achieved substantial progress with targeted measures such as waste sorting. As part of these efforts, we have to change existing processes and adapt to new systems, which can sometimes be a challenge and requires a lot of dedication. We therefore provide our staff with ongoing training. It’s important to get everyone up to speed on waste management. This starts with the initial training people receive when they join the company. It lets us get everyone on board and ensures that processes are implemented effectively.
I am especially proud of the positive results of our pilot project in Austria. Thanks to careful planning and the dedication of the team in Wiener Neudorf we have already been able to develop solutions and implement them. This success motivates us to intensify our efforts and to launch similar projects in other regions as well.
Robert Rogina: Waste management should become an integral part of all wienerberger’s business areas and regions. We don’t just want to reduce our own waste volumes; we also want to function as a pioneer in our industry when it comes to sustainable practices. Our focus is on promoting innovative solutions that make both ecological and economic sense. By 2026, wienerberger plans to reduce its total waste by 15 percent compared to 2023. In the long term, we would like to establish a fully circular economy in which all input materials are either reused or recycled.
Achieving these goals requires a holistic approach, and this is where procurement plays a vital role. By optimizing processes and fostering collaboration, procurement helps identify opportunities to make waste management more efficient and cost-effective. Strategic sourcing ensures that sustainable solutions align with wienerberger’s vision of reducing waste and advancing a circular economy. This synergy between operational efforts and procurement strategies highlights the company’s commitment to combining ecological responsibility with economic viability.
Starting in 2025, we are launching a pilot project across seven locations in North America and Europe, introducing “Zero Waste Ambassadors” who will support the achievement of our waste management goals at their respective locations.
Robert Rogina knows the “world of wienerberger” like the back of his hand. Since joining the company in 1991 the International Manager Standardization & Quality has held a variety of management positions. This experience has given him a deep understanding of technical process optimization and the efficient use of resources. It is therefore hardly surprising that he is enthusiastic about developing and implementing solutions for sustainable waste management.
