Coop Pilots Recycle Containers; Geneva Auto Show Set To Start; Stamp Forgers Rampage

News For 5 March 2019

Coop, the Swiss food retailing giant has been experimenting with reusable containers for its take-away food offerings. Until now, if you intended to make a purchase from the take-away counter, you'd pack your food in a disposable container which would end up in a landfill once you finished your meal. In a bid to reduce waste, Coop's Basel stores have been testing a reusable system, since Friday. The containers are purchased for 10 Swiss Francs, and if you find cleaning them to tedious, they can be returned or exchanged. "If the pilot project goes well with our guests, we will introduce the reusable system this summer in all our restaurants and take-aways throughout Switzerland," said Kaspar Wittwer, head of Coop gastronomy, in a press release on Friday.

  ********** The Geneva Motor Show, an important event for wealthy car brands, kicks off this week on March 7th. 2019 will mark the 89th edition of the auto show. With just three weeks to go before Britain leaves the EU on March 29th, car makers are bracing for the very likely possibility of a "no-deal Brexit" as well as increased tariffs from a US-China trade war. Even so, high-end brands like Aston Martin, Audi and Mercedes will be showing off concept electric SUVs, which are proving to make waves in 2019's automotive industry.  **********

Basel prosecutors warn against fake stamps that are being circulated. The stamps are so similar to the real thing that often, a specialist is needed to determine between a fake and a real stamp. The fake stamps portray a train station in Lucerne, and are being sold for less than the official price of one franc and at smaller companies and shops that are not post offices. The Zurich Police have already launched an investigation, and have yet to determine the extent of the fraud.