Closed loops are the solution of the future. The goal of so-called “closed loop” recycling is to reintroduce the raw materials contained in used, discarded products back into the raw materials cycle for the manufacturing of new products.
In order to qualitatively close the cycle from product to product, numerous process levels are required. At the beginning of the closed loop process are the design, the selection of materials, the production and the regulations of the distribution channel all the way up to the consumer. The requirements of the products are determined on different levels. The product properties, the marketing, the design and finally a marketable price stand in the foreground. Despite its often unfounded image problems, plastic has become a well-suited material for many applications. Decisive cornerstones for a sustainable product are set as early as the design phase of product development.
In the design process, the knowledge and experience of the cycle steps are crucial, and determine the environmental footprint of a product as early as the design concept. Source One offers a complete lifecycle analysis starting with the first design process. Where will your product find its way into the cycle? Where and into which material flow will your product be collected in the overall framework of collection? What do other possible processing steps look like, and what chance does your product have to flow directly back into your production as a processed secondary raw material in the framework of collection, sorting and processing for the purpose of replacing new materials?
Source One will assist you not only with the active implementation of a closed product loop, but will also provide you with practical starting points for alternative secondary raw materials via an analysis in the course of this implementation on a global level if desired.
Eco-design requires the integration of environmental aspects in product design and development. In order to evaluate this, the environmental impacts across the entire product lifecycle must be observed. The effects must be minimized as much as possible and coordinated with social, economic, technical and legal frameworks. Beyond that, sustainable design includes the social and societal context and raises ethical and social questions to be answered.
It can be said that 80% of a product’s environmental impact and cost are determined during its design, which means that a product’s or business undertaking’s environmental performance is both possible and necessary in the planning phase. What’s required here is a formalized development process which systematically analyzes various options.
Here are the cornerstones of Source One’s consultation in the realm of eco-design:
- Material efficiency
- Energy efficiency
- Low-emission and waste-avoiding
- Long-lasting, repair-friendly and durable
- Logistics-friendly design that is also fit for recycling and disposal