Return / Enrich

​

Recycling is the use of materials at the end of their life cycle for new products thus avoiding waste destined for landfills, reducing the impact on the environment.

 

We have to take into account the “downcycling”, which involves the loss of quality of the recycled material and which avoids its reuse for its original purpose. In the same way we have to take into account the “upcycling”, that is to say, that the value of a product increases when using it for a different task.

 

The product extends its life time by becoming second-handed. This means that there are fewer products for the same purpose.

 

It should be noted that reuse includes complete products or parts of them. Also, the old products tend to consume more energy than new ones.

To improve remanufacturing and renovate in product’s design it is crucial to take into account:

​

• Easy to disassemble.

• Availability of tools needed to disassemble.

• Damage caused when disassembling.

• Easy reassembly.

 

Benefits

• Refurbishment can be twice as profitable as production.

• Progression towards a "green company".

• Reduction of energy, materials and other negative environmental impacts of waste production.

• Reduction of waste destined for landfills.

• Conservation of natural resources by extending their available lives

• Reduction in the use of virgin materials.

• Energy saving because it avoids the extraction of raw material.

• Compliance with legislation.

​

​

Industrial Symbiosis

 

Industrial symbiosis consists of the physical exchange of materials or energy between companies, so that what for a company can be a waste for another can be a resource. This becomes a competitive advantage for both companies.

The collection of these products can be relatively simple as long as the owner of the product wants to receive money for it. There are different types:

​

• Customer-to-customer delivery.

• Customer to distributor / manufacturer.

• Third-party customer. 

 

Benefits

• Reduction in: the use of resources, dependence on non-renewable energies, pollutant emissions and waste disposal.

• Reduction of consumption, production and costs of waste management.

• Improves relationship with external agents.

• Generation of new jobs.