Loacker Recycling is 150 years old
Loacker Recycling is 150 years old – A family tradition in the service of sustainability
This year, Loacker Recycling is celebrating its 150th anniversary. This milestone symbolizes 150 years of passion, progress, and commitment to conserving natural resources, protecting the environment, and practicing sustainable management.
What began in 1876 as a small family business has since grown into an international recycling group that is a committed advocate of the circular economy and responsible resource management.
How it all began? – Katharina Loacker made the first step
The history of Loacker Recycling began in the town of Götzis, located in the Rhine Valley in Vorarlberg, when Katharina Loacker received her license to operate as a door-to-door salesperson. She went from house to house collecting used materials, which at the time consisted primarily of textile waste. In 1885, her husband died, leaving her alone with her five minor children.
According to family legend, hes eldest son, Michael—known by the nickname “Kraft-Michel”—collected iron using a cart to which a billy goat was harnessed. These humble beginnings laid the foundation for a company that was already managing its resources responsibly long before the concept of “sustainability” had even been coined—not because it was trendy, but out of conviction and foresight. The family’s nickname, “Isabockers,” can also be traced back to this goat, and it still symbolizes the company’s down-to-earth roots today.
What seems like a heartwarming family story today was, at the time, a sign of forward-thinking: materials were viewed not as waste, but as valuable raw materials.
“From this idea, a company was born that, from the very beginning, was built on the principles of recycling, conservation, and responsibility. And this philosophy continues to shape the way Loacker Recycling operates to this day..”
– Mario Loacker
From a family business to a modern recycling company
The family business continued to grow from generation to generation. After the death of Katharina’s successor in 1942, Reinold Loacker—who was only 15 years old at the time—helped his mother, Johanna, run the business as a truck driver under a special permit. Starting in 1951, his wife, Maria, also became actively involved in the business.
In 1962, the company was renamed “Reinold Loacker Eisenwaren” and moved to a new location due to its growth.
Modernization and development
In the 1960s, the company began a rapid modernization process.
• In 1965, Reinold Loacker launched a waste collection service for industrial companies.
• In 1977, the company began trading in waste paper.
• In 1974, construction began on the current headquarters in Götzis on Lustenauer Straße.
• It was also at this time that the 500-metric-ton metal shears were put into operation, becoming one of the symbols of the company’s industrial-scale growth.
The turning point
One of the most important milestones occurred in 1979.
Michael Loacker, just 27 years old, took over the leadership of the company.
Initially, he ran the company together with his father; at that time, it employed about 20 people.
The company’s name was changed to “Reinold Loacker GesmbH.”
His brother, Karl Loacker, had joined the company as early as 1977 and later became head of the sales division, which eventually became the company’s highest-revenue business unit.
Further developments followed in the 1980s and 1990s:
• facility expansions,
• construction of noise barriers,
• and the start of international expansion beginning in 1992.
The role of women at Loacker
The women of the Loacker family have always played a key role in the company’s history.
In addition to Maria Loacker daughters-in-law also actively participated in the company’s operations.
• Cilli Loacker ensured the stability of the accounting department for 45 years, starting in 1972.
• Angelika Loacker worked in the billing department from 1986 until her retirement.
„The expansion of the Götzis site was a particularly important milestone. By installing the shredder and the paper sorting plant, we were able to significantly increase the volume of material processed. Our international expansion, in turn, has been a key driver of our growth.”
– Thomas Loacker
Since the 2000s, Loacker Recycling has become one of the leading players in the European recycling industry. Investments in Hungary, Germany, and Switzerland have given new impetus to growth.
Today, the Loacker Group consists of:
• 26 companies,
• 45 locations,
• and a network operating in 8 countries.
Generational Transition
After 33 years as CEO, Michael Loacker handed over the reins of the company to his brother, Karl Loacker. Karl expanded the management team and continued to develop the company. It was during this period that the new, prestigious headquarters building was constructed, which the company moved into in the fall of 2017. In 2019, another generational transition took place: Christian Loacker took over the leadership of the company.
„We are very proud that the fifth generation is carrying on our work so successfully.”
– Michael és Cilli Loacker
150 years of success is no accident. It takes people who believe in the same vision across generations and are willing to continually develop it further. Loacker Recycling’s operations are still guided by the same core values today:
• a down-to-earth approach,
• innovation,
• reliability,
• accountability,
• responsible resource management.
What once began with a goat-drawn cart and a great deal of manual labor now operates as a modern recycling company with advanced technologies and an international network of partners.
The essence, however, has remained the same:
collecting, sorting, and processing materials, then returning them to the cycle. It is this continuity that makes Loacker’s story so special. It shows that sustainability is not just a passing trend, but has been part of the company’s identity for a century and a half.
What makes the 150th anniversary so special?
This anniversary not only pays tribute to Katharina Loacker’s pioneering work, but also commemorates the adaptability that has driven the company’s growth across five generations. The journey has taken the company from a goat-drawn cart to a modern fleet of machinery and state-of-the-art processing plants. Loacker has managed to preserve its Vorarlberg roots while becoming an international player in the circular economy.
The motto is the same today:
„Sustainability rooted in tradition—for the Next 150 Years.”
„At Loacker, we were already working sustainably long before the term even existed. For 150 years, our company has been collecting, sorting, and processing valuable raw materials. This anniversary is not only a time to look back, but also an inspiration to continue on our path with responsibility and innovation..”
– Christian Loacker, managing director
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