It’s early morning. The city is slowly waking up and the first rays of sunshine kiss the swimming pier at Oberer Letten. It is beautifully quiet and there is no sign of the previous evening’s hustle and bustle. Peter Hornung deposits his towel and jumps into the refreshing Limmat. The river baths take Peter back, since this is precisely where his idea for Round Rivers was born.

It was something he found in the Limmat on a hot day in summer 2018: a PET bottle. When asked what happens to bottles like this, the answer from the Letten power plant was sobering: any washed-up rubbish is collected in the power plant’s rake and incinerated. Waste separation is simply too complex. At that moment, Peter’s idea to give the PET bottles a second life was born.

For Peter, who studied architecture, his idea came at just the right time. He was in search of a new challenge. On the spot, he decided to tackle PET bottle waste. The idea of making something out of the bottles immediately struck a chord. So, Peter explored the idea of how to give PET bottles a second life. 

It might sound simple, but the process was in fact complicated. Peter’s persistence paid off: PET bottles are turned into swimwear and – a recent addition – winter jackets. “We take plastic out of the river and it later returns to the water transformed.” Hence the name Round Rivers. Every step in the production process takes place within a radius of 140km. PET is shredded into small flakes in Thurgau, then melted down into pellets and extruded into polyester yarn in Ticino. The fabric is made into swimwear and packaged in North Italy. In addition to the shortest possible transport routes, Peter also pays attention to fair working conditions throughout the entire supply chain. 

Through local production chain, making this swimwear leaves a footprint that is smaller than would be created by burning river waste, albeit only minimally. The conscious production of swimwear is also reflected in the choice of colours and designs: they are timeless and understated. 

The founder does this by hand himself. At least once a week, he goes to the Letten power plant, puts on his life jacket and takes up his litter picker. On average, Peter spends one hour a week on the Limmat, retrieving about 200 bottles from the water. They are then sorted by colour in Zurich. Only the transparent bottles are used for further processing, with all others recycled. 

In Zurich, it flows, gurgles and gushes everywhere. Not only are there 1,200 fountains in the city, other forms of water are also never far away. Hence, swimwear is regularly carried around by the people of Zurich, since taking a plunge in the water is a habitual part of life. Whether in the middle of the city, river baths or the lake, the selection of outdoor pools and bathing spots leaves nothing to be desired. Culture also takes place on the water: open-air cinemas and the Theater Spektakel theatre event guarantee entertainment right by the water’s edge. 

Those seeking an idyllic promenade in the city yet far from its stresses on a sunny summer’s day should head to the Schanzengraben. The former military defence facility is now a green promenade, a place of escape. Crossing wooden walkways and sandstone slabs, the path zigzags along the former fortification from Zurich main station to the lake basin near Bürkliplatz. The route also passes the Old Botanical Garden and a variety of waterfront restaurants. There are also plenty of activities in and on the water: swimming, SUP or kayaking – there’s something for everyone.

Saffa Island lies just off the Landiwiese park, a little outside the city centre. The small island in Lake Zurich is paradise for swimmers. Peter agrees: “I love that cycling from the city centre to Saffa Island takes about ten minutes.” With its sunbathing area, this local retreat for the people of Zurich is the perfect place to relax and unwind. Did you know: the island was artificially built in 1958 as part of the second Swiss Exhibition of Women’s Work (SAFFA). 

“A little oasis in the middle of the city” is how Peter describes Nude, the café-bar directly on the Limmat in the heart of Zurich, yet seemingly far from its hustle and bustle. Those who come here in search of a coffee or cocktail will not be disappointed, with snacks like salted almonds, olives and parmesan also on offer to satisfy the little hunger. Its bagel sandwiches are a special highlight. 

In around 1800, the largest continuous public park was created in the city by the lower basin of Lake Zurich. Zurich transformed from a small city along a river to a big city by the lake. The lake promenade provided a welcome place of relaxation and recreation for all people of the city – and does so to this day.

The charming little ice cream cart adorned with the words “Gelati am See” can be found right on the lake by Riesbach harbour. Made from the best ingredients using organic milk from small farms in the lowlands of the Zürcher Unterland, these mouthwatering delights are a treat for the taste buds. Young and old will be equally filled with anticipation as they stand in line waiting for their scoop. “My favourite flavour is pistachio,” says Peter. “When I sit by the lake with an ice cream, I feel like I’m at the seaside.”