The non-slip socks and the plastic waste
November 11, 2025
A contribution to living sustainability in the Zollikerberg world of health.
Mr Bühler was given non-slip socks during his short stay at Zollikerberg Hospital. On leaving, he asked himself the question: "Are these actually recycled?" He disposed of them in the plastic bag and was right to do so. Plastic is collected separately at the hospital.
A small step that is good for the environment and was made possible thanks to the Ecology Working Group. This is made up of representatives from the technical service, transport service, facility management residence, hospital hygiene, housekeeping, the hospital and the nursery. Together, we are committed to ensuring that all operations at Gesundheitswelt Zollikerberg work in an environmentally friendly and resource-conserving manner, from waste separation to energy saving.
To ensure this succeeds, there are ecology officers in every department. They know where what is disposed of, give tips for environmentally conscious behaviour and bring concerns from the teams to the working group.
A commitment that has an impact:
- 7,483 kg of CO₂ saved
- 3,264 kg of PET collected
- 2,897 kg of plastic recycled
The balance sheet from 2024 underlines that consistent action pays off.
The infrastructure is also growing. Each department has a waste disposal trolley for recyclables, paper, glass, aluminium, batteries and now also plastic. In the basement there is a collection point for coffee capsules, iron, electronic waste, toner and other materials. In addition, Barbara Horat and Paulo Silva are coordinating new four-section boxes so that waste can also be better separated in the offices in future.
Sustainability starts in everyday life
Sustainability is evident in everyday life: through careful waste separation, conscious energy consumption and the avoidance of disposable products. Even small gestures count, such as disposing of non-slip socks correctly.
Perhaps there is more to the word "de-care" than meets the eye. If we are mindful of what we consume, we are not caring less, but a little more - for the environment and for all of us.
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