Putback System Packaging

The birth of their invention was a flash of inspiration two years ago. Once again, the two neighbors - both passionate smokers - had spent a pleasant evening together outside: "When we left, we saw at least ten cigarette butts lying on the ground. Unconsciously, we had thrown the butts away because there was no ashtray" confesses Alexander Zaugg. After this key experience and intensive research, they realized the consequences of their careless actions: discarded cigarette butts are not a minor littering sin, but a massive environmental problem. From that moment on, the two men, who were both highly committed to their jobs and families, devoted their free time to the question of how this problem could be solved.

Stirring realization at the end of the day

Countless weeks, numerous sleepless nights, around a hundred failed attempts and a lot of invested capital later, a prototype was born in their garage that met all the requirements. Putback, as the system is called, is based on a very simple idea, like many ingenious inventions. The packaging, made of fireproof cardboard, contains an extendable ashtray that can hold more than ten butts. Says Alex Zaugg: "Thanks to our invention, everyone who buys a pack of cigarettes automatically has an ashtray with them. They can stow the butts after smoking and throw them in the nearest waste garbage can.

Alexander Zaugg and Zemri Sejfuli had the prototype produced by a renowned supplier to the tobacco industry. It was important to them that the packaging could be produced on the cigarette manufacturers` existing machines without incurring major additional costs. The two men from the Bernese Oberland have applied for patents for their invention as a whole and for parts of it in Switzerland and internationally. Zemri Sejfuli is confident: "The time is right, because something must be done about this environmental problem. Governments around the world are aware of this and are imposing heavy fines for butt littering. We are open to cooperation with cigarette manufacturers and are working wholeheartedly on projects. Our invention serves everyone - smokers, non-smokers and, above all, the environment."

Zemale AG

On April 26, 2022, Alexander Zaugg and Zemri Sejfuli founded ZEMALE AG. The logo is a conjunction of the names Zemri and Alexander combined with the lucky number 8. The two owners invented the "putback" system, for which a patent has been applied for nationally and internationally. It is an ashtray that is integrated into the original cigarette packaging. With this Swiss invention one of the biggest environmental problems in the world can be solved.