recycling

Best practices

Optimised packaging: reusable, lighter, biodegradable

Packaging protects and preserves products and ensures that they arrive in perfect condition. But producing packaging also consumes resources and disposing of it results in a large amount of waste, especially in the growing online trade. This is an economic and an environmental burden. Packaging and...
Best practices

The East Bay Depot for Creative Re-use

Re-used ... re-loved Office equipment and furniture finds a new home or new purpose if not thrown away Community centres and schools can make use of the equipment Valuable materials contained in the used items can be repurposed as well Office waste can be reduced by ensuring that discarded office...
Best practices

Improving office management to reduce waste

Every office generates waste such as paper, cardboard, packaging, bottles, disposable plates, cups, cutleries, towels, food waster, etc. A 'wasteful' company typically has higher material and waste-disposal costs. So efforts to cut back on office waste can save your company money. There are several...
Best practices

Integrating remanufacturing into production systems

Remanufacturing is the rebuilding, repairing or restoring of an end-of-life product or part to return it to like-new condition. Remanufactured products or parts should be backed by the same or similar level of warranty as new products. From a customer viewpoint, the remanufactured product can be...
Best practices

Assessment and improvement of production line infrastructure to reduce material use

Changes and improvements to production infrastructure can significantly reduce raw materials used, and related costs of storage, as well as boost manufacturing efficiency. According to McKinsey reports, companies should prioritise activities that offer the greatest potential benefit. Additionally...
Best practices

Use of waste heat from machines at Spiess Blechtechnik GmbH

Recycling waste energy just made sense… A metalwork plant built its own heat capping and recycling solution A simple, clever system to channel waste heat in- or outside the plant depending on the season and temperature outside Initial investment could be recouped within a year Spiess Blechtechnik is...
Best practices

Heat recovery from production processes

Even in workplaces which have already introduced energy saving measures, there is still one untapped source… waste heat. Industrial or thermal processes produce heat that is all-too-often released into the atmosphere, adding to greenhouse gases. That heat can be recovered and used in various ways...
Best practices

Ecodesign for durable goods

Durable products designed with sustainability considerations, or ecodesigned, offer many advantages both to the company and the environment. Ecodesign takes into account the full life-cycle of products, from conception to design and development, to construction, packaging and end-of-life...
Best practices

Ecodesign for fast-moving consumer goods

Fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) are typically used by households quickly after purchase or at least under one year. This includes packaged foods, cleaning supplies, light bulbs, but also cosmetics and personal hygiene items. FMCG packaging is a major challenge. Because of the short lifespan and...
Best practices

Input-output analysis helps Italian company cut energy and material consumption

How to top a scrap problem Component-maker employs TOP 20 to evaluate where energy and material gains could be made Targeted measures cut back on unrecovered scrap losses and identify new products Stafer is an Italian company producing rolling shutter components with a staff of around 70 employees...
Best practices

Implementing a waste-management system

The core goal of a waste-management system is to think of ways to improve a company's handling of non-product outputs (waste with zero or negative market value), and implement measures to minimise waste generation through more efficient use of resources or re-use of materials and to separate waste...
Best practices

Estonian water utility's eco-management efforts

Long-term collective effort gets the results A raft of environmental measures form part of Tallinn water utility's EMAS strategy Today, it uses 88 % of biogas produced on-site thanks to waste separation measures introduced Tallinna Vesi is the largest water utility company in Estonia, providing...