Starting January 1, 2024, electric vehicles will be subject to a 4% automobile tax. This move aims to address tax revenue shortfalls, secure transportation fund deposits, and improve the national budget.

Holcim, a Swiss building materials leader, has won the Circular Transition Award at Reuters Responsible Business Awards 2023. Their innovations include recycled minerals clinker, 100% recycled cement, and eco-conscious custom concrete.

Autoneum’s Re-Liner tech, using recycled materials from car bumpers, is a finalist for the 2023 PACE Award. This innovation transforms waste into lightweight, durable wheelhouse outer liners, reducing environmental impact, aligning with a sustainable circular economy.

ABB’s global competence center for power electronics nears completion with a 40-million-Swiss Franc investment. The sustainable facility uses groundwater for heating and cooling, features recycled concrete, and provides homes for swifts. Grand opening set for November 16, 2023.

Swiss engineering group, Bucher Industries, applauds Bucher Municipal’s significant sustainability achievement. With 1,422 solar panels, they’ve cut energy consumption by 17-20%, aligning with the mission to reduce CO2 emissions by 10% by 2026.

Nestlé’s circular packaging innovations have led to a 10.5% reduction in virgin plastics since 2018. By 2025, they aim to cut plastics by two-thirds, achieving remarkable environmental gains and fostering sustainability in consumer goods.

Swiss companies CKW Group and Leuk Teleport are transforming outdated satellite antennas into solar powerhouses in the Alps. This innovative initiative offers an eco-friendly solution to Switzerland’s growing energy challenges, supported by Axpo Group’s commitment to renewable energy.

The Geneva Science and Diplomacy Anticipator (GESDA) has launched the Open Quantum Institute (OQI). The OQI aims to harness quantum technologies to accelerate progress towards the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. It emphasizes the importance of global accessibility to quantum computing for addressing pressing challenges, including healthcare and climate solutions.

Efforts against greenwashing strengthen as the Swiss Federal Department of Finance (FDF) implements Federal Council’s guidelines to prevent misleading environmental claims in finance. Proposed regulations aim for transparency, with possible industry self-regulation, promoting integrity. Consultation draft due by August 2024.

Empa researchers, in collaboration with ETH Zurich, are accelerating carbonation in concr.ete production to absorb CO2. Results show recycled concrete granules with increased strength, potentially reducing the net greenhouse gas effect by 13%. A promising step toward sustainable construction