Closing the Loop: The Best Solution for Our Global Waste Problem?

How often do we throw something in the garbage can every day, be it a to-go coffee cup, an Amazon shipping box or a broken plate? And how often do we as consumers think about what happens afterwards when the used item disappears from sight? Probably too seldom, because the global problem of waste is just one of many issues that pollute our environment. More sustainable solutions than landfill need to be found: Where to put all our waste? Closed-loop recycling has proven to be a promising method of reducing waste, conserving resources and reducing the impact on our environment. Read this article to find out how companies are taking steps towards a more sustainable future and what end consumers can do to help.

What is Closed-Loop Recycling?

“Reuse, Reduce, Recycle” - many people have integrated this principle into their daily lives in order to reduce their waste production and live more sustainably. One of the most consistent methods of implementing this principle is recycling in a closed loop. Closed-loop recycling is a process in which products made from the same or similar raw materials are collected at the end of their useful life, recycled and converted back into raw materials to make new products. This continuous recycling and manufacturing cycle also helps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and conserve valuable resources.

The aim of the cycle is to reuse resources as often as possible and completely avoid the production of waste. This is how it works in practice: after products are used up, broken or at the end of their life cycle, they should be broken down into their individual raw materials and returned to their original state. The recovered raw material can then be reused and does not have to end up in a landfill. This means that no additional resources are required to manufacture new products. The recovered material can either be used for other purposes or reused to manufacture the same products. But it's not quite as simple as it sounds. In order to develop a functional closed-loop system, a number of factors need to be taken into account.

Key Features of a Good Closed-Loop System

Collection

The first step in the circular economy is the collection of used products. An easily accessible infrastructure is important for a good system so that end users can easily return products. It must be clear to users that the circular system exists, how they can participate and why it is important to re-use used raw materials in the first place. Communicating this is the first and one of the most important steps an organization needs to take to spread a closed loop among people. This measure can be supported by, for example, special recycling facilities, kerbside collection or drop-offs at retailers. Partnerships between companies can also be used to transport used products from the retailer to the producer, for example.

Sorting

After collection, the products need to be sorted correctly to extract the recyclable materials. This can be achieved through manual sorting or more advanced technologies such as optical sorting and robotics. This step is critical to maintaining the quality and purity of recycled materials and can be one of the biggest challenges for a circular system, as sorting products made up of multiple materials can quickly become complicated and cost a lot of time and even more resources. The supposedly simplest solution? Produce recyclable products from as few different materials as possible. Of course, this is not feasible in all cases, but should not be ignored for a future in which closed-loop systems are set to gain more influence. “Mono material” solutions are increasingly being sought for packaging; these are products that consist of only one main material (e.g. PET or cardboard) and can therefore be sorted and recycled much more easily.

High-Quality Recycling

The recycling process should effectively break down products into their core components while maintaining material quality. This can be a challenge as some materials degrade during the recycling process. Investing in high quality and appropriate solutions for the different materials is important to avoid producing more pollutants during recycling and losing resources than you would hope to save. Good recycling systems must strike a balance between material recovery and quality preservation. The decision on what to pay particular attention to when recycling depends heavily on the types of materials, the recycling method and the form of output that is ultimately required to reuse the recycled material.

Manufacturing

After recycling, the materials should be used to produce new, high-quality products. A good closed-loop system should prioritize environmentally friendly manufacturing processes, use energy-efficient production methods and avoid waste wherever possible. The day's work is not yet done in sustainable manufacturing. Producers have many opportunities to reduce their impact on the environment. For example, the use of photovoltaic systems to generate green electricity onsite for production or alternatives to heating gas such as heat pumps can also be considered.

Consumer Engagement

Ultimately, a successful closed-loop recycling system depends on the willingness of consumers to participate in the recycling process. This can be achieved, for example, through public education campaigns, incentives to return products or promoting the environmental benefits of closed-loop recycling systems. The power over the success of closed-loop systems therefore lies both in the hands of organizations and companies, which should produce recyclable and durable products, and with consumers directly, who must actively participate in this system and do their part to ensure that recycling systems become even more widespread.

 Examples of Successful Closed-Loop Recycling

Aluminum Cans

The aluminum industry is a shining example of a functioning circular economy. Aluminum cans can be recycled indefinitely and without loss of quality, making them ideal for this process. In many countries, recycling rates for aluminum cans are extremely high, some reaching over 90%. The collected cans are melted down and turned back into new cans, closing the loop.

Printer Cartridges

Printer manufacturers such as HP and Canon have introduced successful closed-loop recycling programs for their ink and toner cartridges. Consumers can return used cartridges to designated drop-off points or via return programs. The cartridges are then sorted, dismantled and recycled. The recovered raw materials are then used directly to manufacture new cartridges.

PET drinks bottles

The majority of the drinks bottles we use every day are made of PET plastic. The normal deposit system for us, with vending machines in every supermarket, is basically also a well-established closed-loop recycling system. The bottles are collected after use, cleaned and processed into new bottles. This creates a closed loop in which PET is used repeatedly without the need for new raw materials. This saves resources and significantly reduces energy consumption.

Electronic waste

Under no circumstances should electrical appliances be disposed of with household waste. This is mainly due to the special components and important raw materials they contain. They also contain harmful substances such as cadmium, mercury and lead, which are released during conventional waste disposal by incineration and heavily pollute the soil and air. Old electrical appliances can be handed in at recycling centers or, particularly practical for consumers, larger supermarkets and online retailers are also obliged to take back electrical appliances and dispose of them properly.

Sustainable Possibilities for Companies

Production companies can make a decisive contribution to closed-loop recycling by paying attention to the recyclability of their products right from the design process. This means selecting materials and designing products in such a way that they can be easily recycled at the end of their service life. In addition, companies should establish efficient take-back systems to return used products from customers and feed them into the recycling process. By investing in modern recycling technologies and working with specialized partners, they can ensure that materials are returned to the production cycle. Conscious awareness-raising among the workforce and transparent communication with consumers round off the contribution and promote the sustainable use of resources. We have already started to do our part for a better future.

Here's How We Do Our Part

The products we manufacture are not standardized and do not belong in household waste, as they cannot be properly recycled there. We therefore ensure that each of our products is properly handled and recycled at the end of its life. Customers can return products to us and we will collect and recycle them. This ensures that valuable resources are not lost or incinerated.

Closing the Loop Made Easy

Closed-loop recycling offers a sustainable solution for waste management and helps to conserve our planet's resources and reduce environmental impact. By being implemented in many industries, such systems can become even more widespread and have a greater impact. As we move towards a more sustainable future, this is an essential step towards protecting our environment and conserving valuable resources. Companies are increasingly playing their part in the solution and establishing their own closed-loop systems. What options are there for consumers to support this positive development?

 Der erste und auch offensichtlichste Schritt ist es, sich über die bestehenden Kreislaufsysteme zu informieren und sich an ihnen zu beteiligen. Endkonsumenten spielen auch weiter eine zentrale Rolle im Closed-Loop-Recycling, indem sie verantwortungsbewusste Kaufentscheidungen treffen und Produkte bevorzugen, die nachhaltig hergestellt und leicht recycelbar sind. Durch die ordnungsgemäße Rückgabe von Produkten an Recyclingstellen, wie beispielsweise durch Pfandsysteme oder Rücknahmeservices der Hersteller, können sie aktiv dazu beitragen, dass Materialien wieder in den Produktionskreislauf gelangen. Darüber hinaus hilft es, sich über Recyclingmöglichkeiten zu informieren und Produkte, die nicht in den Hausmüll gehören, korrekt zu entsorgen. Mit diesen einfachen Maßnahmen leisten Konsumenten einen entscheidenden Beitrag zur Ressourcenschonung und zur Reduzierung von Abfall.