Recycling is converting waste materials into reusable objects to prevent waste of useful resources, reduce the consumption of raw materials, decrease energy usage, lower air and water pollution, and lower greenhouse gas emissions. It is a way to address the global challenge of Waste Management, while conserving resources and mitigating environmental impact.
There is a direct link between recycling and the circular economy which is “the number one priority” of the European Green Deal and a key tool for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)4 and meeting the commitments of the Paris Agreement. Circularity looks to achieve more sustainable methods of production and consumption, while providing benefits to society. It’s intended as a means to an end rather than an end in itself; being the end goal to ultimately achieve long-term sustainable development environmentally, economically and socially.
In that sense, recycling is key because it makes the ecological transition more inclusive, favors collaborative models and practices between companies from different sectors, improves the acceptance of green technologies by the population and promotes, in general, a more circular behavior of society through increased education on sustainability.
Also, the societal impact of recycling is clearly seen in the economic area. According to data from the international non-profit network representing social enterprises active in the field of reuse, repair and recycling (RREUSE), social enterprises generate between 40 and 100 jobs for every 1,000 tons of material collected and recovered for reuse-oriented activities.
Recycling innovation
However, there is need to promote innovation for recycling. It will signify the introduction of new methods, technologies, or approaches that improve the efficiency, effectiveness, and scope of recycling processes. Traditional recycling methods are facing now several limitations like material degradation – materials degrade in quality with each recycling cycle-, contamination issues -contaminants hinder the recycling process and lower the value of recovered materials-, limited scope – current systems are not universally applicable to all waste types – and energy intensity – energy consumption in recycling needs to be optimized to maximize net positive impact-
The solutions come with innovation. For example, from developing new sorting technologies to creating biodegradable plastics and enhancing Chemical Recycling processes, there are opportunities to overcome these challenges.
Recycling innovation comes in handy. It can be understood as the continuous improvement and transformation of how we recycle, aiming for greater sustainability and circularity. The types of innovation can consist of encompassing everything from optimizing sorting techniques to developing entirely new chemical processes for material recovery.
There are different types of recycling innovation:
- Technological Innovation, which involves the development and deployment of new technologies to improve recycling processes.
- Process Innovation, that means optimizing and redesigning recycling processes themselves.
- Material Innovation, that consists of designing new materials and products that are inherently more recyclable and sustainable.
We have to consider that is just not about improvements when we talk about recycling innovation. It’s about rethinking the entire system of material production, consumption, and waste management. This Statement moves beyond a narrow focus on end-of-life solutions to encompass upstream interventions and systemic redesign.
