The Circular Economy is an increasingly important topic in the print industry. The main idea in a circular economy is that everything produced should be reused or repurposed.
What is the Circular Economy?
We currently operate in a linear economy where products are produced, used by consumers, and then turned into waste. In a circular economy, waste does not exist as products and materials are reused over and over again for as long as possible.
This can be achieved by extending the shelf life of products and ensuring materials can be used throughout the supply chain as long as possible. Products and materials need to be designed to be reused. Repaired, and remanufactured.
The main pillars of the circular economy are:
- Sharing
- Reusing
- Repairing
- Refurbishing
- Recycling
Why Circular Economy?
There are many reasons to start looking at a circular business model. For example, it will help to reduce your environmental footprint, pollution, operations waste, and use expensive materials more efficiently.
There is increasing demand for sustainable producers from both consumers and the wider industry. In the Netherlands, the government has set the goals of a fully circular economy by 2050. As part of this, they have the goal to:
- Ensure production processes use raw materials more efficiently, so that fewer are needed
- When new raw materials are needed, they are sustainably produced and renewable
- Develop new production methods and design new products to be circular
Circular Economy in the Print Industry
Within the print industry there are a variety of ways in which circular economy principles can be adopted. One of the easiest ways to start is by minimising waste by recycling and reusing materials. This reduces waste and keeps it in the ‘loop’. Reused and recycled materials should also be incorporated into the design phase of products, shifting the focus away from virgin materials.
Businesses and organisations can also work together to develop circular supply chains. For example, paper trimmings and ink waste from production processes can be used as raw materials for a company that makes recycled paper products. Furthermore, businesses can work together with their customers to promote the continued use and reuse of materials. For example, systems to collect and refurbish products can be introduced. An example of this already implemented in the print industry is for suppliers to have the bases of banners and flags sent back to them once the customer is finished using them. They can then be used again for new orders.
Look out for our upcoming circular economy best practices from suppliers in our network!
