Developing high quality recycled materials offers price advantages, improves material efficiency and opens up opportunities for collaboration with customers and suppliers.
As the need to do more with less intensifies, Electrolux sees material efficiency as a key business differentiator, and is investing in efforts to develop high quality recycled plastics such as CarboRec.
CarboRec is based on post-consumer recycled polypropylene optimized for use in Electrolux appliances. Developed by the Electrolux Global Technology Center (GTC), its advantages include a low and stable price compared to more volatile raw materials, and a smaller carbon footprint.
The economic and environmental win-win of CarboRec is attracting sustainability-savvy stakeholders. Electrolux has had enthusiastic feedback from strategic customers and suppliers including expressions of interest to work through challenges together, and explore other business opportunities in the area of recycled and bio-materials.
Although there is some way to go, the potential for closed loop plastics in appliances is promising. Many non-visible parts are already made from recycled plastic today, and in ten years’ time this could apply to most, if not all, components. Beyond 2020 it’s certainly possible to imagine a true circular economy.