Excellent collaboration for a sustainable future – how the e-Container Portal is setting new standards in the digitalization of the public sector.
What began as a pragmatic digital project in Eastern Switzerland is now a beacon for intelligent, sustainable and scalable digitalization in the public sector.
At the LEADER Digital Award Night 2025, the KVA Thurgau association and the Online Group received an award in the Organizations category for the jointly developed e-Container Portal. A project that shows how digitalization can create real added value for society, the environment and administration – and sets a strong example for sustainability.
An award with a signal effect
In its statement, the jury of the LEADER Digital Award particularly praised the consistently implemented sustainability aspect. The e-container portal is an example of how digital technologies can be used in a targeted manner to achieve an ecological impact – whether through the avoidance of empty runs, the data-based optimization of disposal processes or the resource-saving use of modern cloud technologies.
According to the jury, technology supports and promotes sustainability – if it is used correctly. This is exactly where the e-Container Portal comes in.
The origin: A concrete need – and the will to change
The challenge was clear: for years, municipalities and organizations in the catchment area of KVA Thurgau have been faced with the task of organizing the disposal of containers as efficiently, ecologically and citizen-friendly as possible. Previous processes were paper-based, charged at a flat rate and often led to empty runs, unnecessary costs and little transparency.
Together with KVA Thurgau, we therefore developed the e-Container Portal – a digital platform that municipalities, companies and private individuals can use to plan, register and manage their container collection individually. The system is based on a low-code Microsoft Cloud platform and allows for fast, flexible implementation and easy scalability.
Three steps to digital impact
The e-Container Portal is based on simple principles with a big impact:
- 🔁 From flat-rate to needs-based: instead of fixed collection intervals or flat rates, waste disposal is now based on specific registrations – transparent, comprehensible and fair.
- 🚛 From empty runs to data-based planning: routes are only planned when there is an actual need. This reduces unnecessary journeys, saves CO₂ and conserves resources.
- 📲 From analog slips of paper to a digital platform: the entire interaction – from registration and feedback to billing – is digital, intuitive and user-friendly.
The result is a more sustainable circular economy in which technology helps to make existing processes more efficient, resource-saving and user-friendly.
Sustainability as a digital lever
The environmental concept was not simply a side effect, but a central component of the design. The platform not only simplifies operations, but also helps to significantly reduce CO₂ emissions by avoiding empty runs. At the same time, paper is saved as registration forms, lists and feedback are fully digitized.
This concrete impact on the environment was decisive for the award. At a time when sustainability is not only a political but also an economic issue, the project impressively demonstrates the role that digitalization plays in a more climate-friendly future.
A joint project at eye level
A project like this can only succeed with trust, openness and the will to work together. We would particularly like to highlight the role of Markus Schäfli, Dieter Nägeli and Dominik Linder from KVA Thurgau, who not only contributed bold ideas, but also actively helped to shape the implementation. The partnership was characterized by mutual respect, transparency and a clear goal: to create a solution that makes everyday life easier and at the same time makes ecological sense.
Digital thinking – started locally – scalable throughout Switzerland
Although the project originated in Eastern Switzerland, it is not a one-off, but a blueprint for the entire public sector. The solution has a modular structure, is easily transferable to other regions and can also be used in other areas of municipal administration – be it for bulky goods collection, green waste collection or even in other sectors with comparable logistics processes.
Digitalization that feels good
We are convinced that you don’t feel good digitalization – it simply works.
The e-Container Portal is not loud, not spectacular – but it solves a real problem, improves processes and makes life easier. For us, that is the definition of successful digitalization.
Thanks to strong partners and a strong team
Many thanks to the entire project team – both internally and externally. The award is the result of hard work, creative ideas and strong team spirit.
We would also like to congratulate our fellow finalists, Abraxas Informatik AG and Technische Betriebe Wil. You show that Eastern Switzerland is not only playing a part in digitization, but also helping to shape it.
Our claim: solutions that win awards
At the Online Group, we develop digital solutions that are not only technically strong, but also provide real benefits. Winning the LEADER Digital Award 2025 is a great confirmation that our approach works. We believe in:
- Pragmatic digitalization instead of show effects
- Cooperation at eye level instead of silo thinking
- Technology as an enabler for sustainability – not as an end in itself
With the e-Container Portal, we show how sustainability, user-friendliness and efficiency can be combined in one solution.
