Taking The Circular Route: Considerations From A To Z
By Christian Mabey, Managing Director, Optima Products.
The UK’s Net Zero Strategy has set out plans for the government to reduce harmful emissions and decarbonise all sectors of the UK economy, including manufacturing and construction. These plans were elaborated in order to meet the target of net zero emissions by 2050.
As countless experts have already claimed, it is imperative that considerable changes happen well before that date if we wish to achieve that goal and halt the disastrous effects of climate change by the middle of this century.
Prompted by concerns about the scarcity of resources, the enactment of stronger environmental legislation by government bodies and the rise in public demand for responsible production methods, many industries are coming to terms with the fact that the current economic model of ‘single-use’ isn’t viable in the long term.
Manufacturers are exploring ways to eliminate waste and extend the life cycle of their products and materials as the pressure to invest in a circular economic approach increases.
Why Go Circular?
There are obvious financial advantages to favouring a circular economy. According to research by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation1, changing how products are manufactured and used can reduce CO2 emissions by 45 per cent. In an era of rising emission taxes and increased pressure from investors and consumers, putting a value on waste creates considerable new wealth, and the circularity of products has become a solid competitive factor.
But circularity goes far beyond the question of money, it also advances a wider range of organisational, environmental and societal goals. In recent years, building product manufacturers have had to compete for increasingly costly raw materials, such as glass and aluminium. Adopting a circular approach directly reduces the demand for such virgin resources.
As the country struggles with one of the worst energy crises in its history, it’s inevitable to recognise how choosing a circular approach as opposed to manufacturing new products can reduce energy consumption by up to 590 per cent. This is certainly the case with aluminium.
Additionally, the circular approach allows manufacturers to retain and recapture the maximum value inherent in the original product, at every level and throughout many life cycles.
Beware Of Fraudulent Claims
Unfortunately, as the demand for environmentally sound products has grown, so has the occurrence of misleading ‘green’ claims.
In an attempt to capitalise on the environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) investing movement, certain suppliers and manufacturers have succumbed to the temptation to cut corners by simply slapping a flashy claim onto their product, although they lack tangible commitments. It can be quite a challenge to navigate this, which is why I strongly advise facilities managers to seek out as much information as possible and to turn to businesses that can back up their claims with facts and details.
This can take the form of an Environment Product Declaration (EPD) and a Life-Cycle Assessment (LCA), which are standardised tools assuring full transparency about the environmental performance of a product across the entire supply chain. Essentially, they create a level playing field for accountability within the industry, facilitating the decision process for FMs and specifiers.
Looking At The Bigger Picture
As a manufacturer of market-leading aluminium-framed glass partitioning systems, I’m acutely aware of just how much the aluminium sector has needed to evolve over the past few years in order to meet new sustainability standards. It’s no secret that while aluminium does deliver an array of environmental benefits, producing it is carbon intensive.
Does that mean FMs should steer clear of aluminium products? Absolutely not. Recycled aluminium is becoming more prolific within UK construction and design, reducing the energy consumption of the virgin alternative by 95%.This significantly lowers emissions and, in turn, reduces waste going to landfill.
But circularity goes beyond recycling, it’s also about specifying product systems that are designed to be demountable, and which can be used and reused as the modern office continues to evolve. In order to reach net zero goals, adopting a long-term vision with adaptability in mind is key.
1: https://ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/publications
