Reduce, Reuse and Recycle strategies

Supply chains have so far been depicted as a straight line from the extraction of raw materials to their supply to manufacturers, who deliver their products to end consumers via distributors. The continuation of this model would mean the depletion of the planet's resources for decades to come.

Fortunately, awareness of the importance of creating circular economies is growing. Many industries are reacting to the climate urgency.

However, shifting business to a sustainable model is not easy and its implementation requires thought leadership and innovation. The circular economy is based on three principles: reduce, reuse, and recycle.

Reduce

The first pillar is to reduce the consumption of raw materials by replacing them with reused or recycled materials. Here it is particularly important to reduce the consumption of raw materials whose extraction has a high environmental impact. It is also crucial to reduce the proportion of material that is difficult to reintroduce into the supply chain after use (e.g. highly treated mixed materials). 

Reuse

The second pillar is reuse. Once a product has reached the end of its lifespan, it must be assessed whether the whole product or its components can be converted into a new product or reused in other applications without the need for disposal. Refurbishment offers a great business opportunity with a big impact on the conservation of natural resources.  

Recycle

In case that a product or its components cannot be reused, recycling comes into play. In the first step of recycling, the generated waste must be separated according to its composition (e.g. plastics, metals), which are then treated. The better the separation, the better the purity and properties of the recycled material.
 

Miebach Consulting supports the definition and implementation of the transition of your supply chain towards a circular economy.