From Warehouse to Wellness: How a Former Banker Built Zurich's Fastest-Growing Sustainable Packaging Firm

In a converted textile warehouse along Förrlibuckstrasse in Wiedikon, Maria Keller's three-year-old company, EcoCycle Materials, is redefining how Swiss businesses think about packaging waste. What started as a side project during her MBA has evolved into one of Zurich's most promising sustainable ventures, with revenue projected to reach 2.8 million francs this year—a 180 percent increase from 2024.

Keller, 38, left her position as a senior analyst at a major financial services firm in the Paradeplatz district in 2022, frustrated by what she saw as superficial corporate environmental commitments. "I realised companies weren't willing to fundamentally change their supply chains," she explains. "But they would, if the alternative was cheaper and better."

EcoCycle Materials produces compostable packaging film from agricultural waste—primarily corn stalks and wheat straw sourced from farmers across the Zürcher Oberland. The material costs around 15 percent less than conventional plastic film and decomposes within 180 days in industrial facilities. Over two years, the company has secured contracts with seven mid-sized food manufacturers in the greater Zurich region, including a notable partnership with a prominent bakery chain that operates 34 outlets across northeastern Switzerland.

The operation employs 12 full-time staff and operates from a 1,200-square-metre facility—modest by industrial standards, but it demonstrates viable commercial viability that has attracted attention from venture capital and established materials companies. In March, Swiss-based Clariant conducted a site visit, signalling potential collaboration opportunities.

Keller's approach reflects a broader shift visible across Zurich's business landscape. The city's traditional strengths in finance and pharmaceuticals remain unshaken, yet entrepreneurs are increasingly targeting the estimated 15 billion-franc Swiss waste management market. The University of Zurich's Institute for Environmental Studies reports that circular-economy startups have grown from fewer than 20 in 2018 to over 110 by 2025.

What distinguishes EcoCycle Materials is its focus on profitability alongside sustainability. Rather than positioning itself as a premium ethical choice, Keller's company competes directly on cost and performance metrics. "Sustainability can't be a luxury good," she notes. "It has to be the default option."

The team is currently exploring expansion into the German and French markets, with preliminary discussions underway with distributors in Basel and Geneva. By 2028, Keller aims to operate a second production facility in the Limmattal region.

For Zurich's wider entrepreneurial ecosystem, EcoCycle Materials represents a maturing model: one where idealism meets rigorous business discipline, and where a former banker turned founder is proving that doing well and doing good aren't mutually exclusive.

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