Recycling as the key to sustainability
Circular Economy on the rise
In a world that is increasingly dealing with the consequences of resource overuse – i.e. more is consumed than is available – and climate change, recycling is becoming increasingly important. But which recycling approaches are particularly successful in which industries?
Construction industry: Recycling on a large scale
The construction industry is one of the most resource-intensive industries – and has made significant progress in recycling in recent years. Concrete and asphalt are increasingly being reused as the main components of many buildings. In addition, care is now taken to preserve valuable materials such as steel, glass and wood in many building demolitions. One success story is the use of recycled concrete, which is made from processed demolition materials. In this way, CO2 emissions from new buildings can be significantly reduced.
Automotive: From scrap metal to high-tech
The automotive industry has established recycling processes that go far beyond the mere recycling of scrap metal. End-of-life vehicles are now being systematically dismantled and materials such as aluminum, copper and plastics are reused in new vehicles. In the European Union, a quarter of the plastic used to build a new vehicle must come from recycling. The recycling of batteries from electric vehicles is particularly innovative: companies such as Umicore and Northvolt are developing processes to recover rare raw materials such as lithium, cobalt and nickel from used batteries. These approaches not only help to avoid raw material shortages, but also reduce the environmental impact of raw material extraction.
Fashion: Circular models against fast fashion
In the textile industry, technologies such as the chemical recycling of polyester make it possible to break down old garments into their raw materials and obtain new fibres from them. Brands such as Patagonia and H&M are investing in such processes and now offer clothing made from recycled material. Another approach is the mechanical recycling of cotton, in which new yarns are obtained from old textiles. Although this method is energy-intensive, it saves significant amounts of water and land that would be required to grow new cotton.
Electronics: Raw material recovery from e-waste
Electronic devices are a veritable treasure trove for the recycling of rare and valuable raw materials such as gold, silver and platinum. Companies like Sims Recycling Solutions have developed processes to extract these materials from e-waste. The recycling of smartphones whose metals are reused in new devices or other industries is particularly successful. In addition, tech companies such as Apple are working on closed recycling cycles; with programs such as “Apple Trade In”, old devices are collected, refurbished and in some cases reintegrated into the production cycle.
Food and Packaging Industry: Waste as a Resource
Recycling is also particularly tangible in the food and packaging industries. Closed plastic cycles dominate there. Companies such as Alpla or Veolia recycle used PET bottles and turn them into new packaging. In the European Union, the collection and recycling of PET accelerated in 2022 against the backdrop of the goals of the EU Single-Use Plastics Directive. The collection rate of PET in 2022 was 60 per cent (2020: 45 per cent). In addition, the sorted recycling rate for PET beverage bottles alone was estimated at 75 percent (2020: 61 percent). The average recycled content of PET beverage bottles in the EU reached 24 percent. The recycling of organic waste, e.g. by means of biogas plants, is also innovative. In it, food residues are converted into biogas, which serves as a renewable energy source. The fermentation residues can also be used as fertilizer in agriculture.
Scaling and further development of technologies
Recycling is no longer a niche topic, but a decisive factor for a resource-saving and environmentally friendly economy. Whether in the construction industry, the automotive industry or the fashion world – innovative solutions everywhere show how waste can be transformed into valuable resources. But despite this progress, much remains to be done. The challenges lie primarily in scaling and further developing the technologies as well as in raising consumer awareness.