KNAUF INDUSTRIES PROMOTING THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY
Knauf Industries has implemented actions in keeping with the guidelines of the circular economy roadmap.
WE ARE COMMITTED TO DESIGNING RECYCLABLE OR REUSABLE PRODUCTS.
We set up collection and recycling schemes. We produce with environmental protection in mind and ensure that plastic granules are contained in our factories. We include recycled raw materials in our products when permitted by the regulations.
RECYCLING: OUR COMMITMENT
In line with the guidelines of the Circular Economy roadmap, Knauf Industries favours solutions based on 100% recyclable materials and which are covered by recycling schemes.
RECYCLING OF EPS
Expanded polystyrene (EPS) is one of our favoured materials at Knauf Industries. EPS products are 100% recyclable. Either by crushing and reincorporation in new technical items or industrial packaging. Or by compacting to turn it into raw material intended for plastic item production.
EPS recycling in figures:
- 13,000 tonnes of EPS recycled annually, representing a recycling rate of 33% of all French stock
- 62% of corporate EPS packaging is recycled annually
- 65% of French EPS packaging consumption recycled annually
- Almost 800 EPS collection points can be found in France
(source Elipso www.elipso.org)
EXPANDED POLYPROPYLENE RECYCLING
Like most homogeneous thermoplastic materials, Expanded Polypropylene fluidizes under the effect of heat and subsequently hardens on cooling, in a reversible process. Therefore, it can be recycled ad infinitum!
COLLECTION & RECOVERY: KNAUF CIRCULAR® PROGRAM
KNAUF CIRCULAR® GIVES NEW LIFE TO EXPANDED POLYSTYRENE WASTE.
Knauf, Knauf Industries, Isobox Isolation, Isobox Agromer have launched Knauf Circular®, the system that guarantees the recycling of your EPS waste and its recovery into new products.
You are a private individual, a craftsman/trader or an industrialist and wish to add value to your expanded polystyrene?
Commit to the sustainable management of your EPS waste with the Knauf Circular® program!
AN ACTIVE APPROACH TO PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT
54% of consumers prefer products with less packaging or with recyclable packaging (Food 360 study by TNS Sofres – 2016).
ECO-DESIGN: AN ALL NATURAL CHOICE
At Knauf Industries, eco-design is integrated at every stage of a project! We select the materials with the lowest environmental impact for quality of use and required technical performance. We optimize the design of our packaging and the quantity of material used. Our role is to create for you solutions bringing a gain of material while preserving the quality of your products. We favor single material solutions and select our raw materials according to their technical characteristics.
A PHILOSOPHY OF WORK
It is essential for us to offer reliable products and solutions, designed and manufactured to leave a minimal environmental impact throughout the life cycle.
This work philosophy has engaged us in a 6-points approach:
- Integrate from the beginning the all internal and external stakeholders concerned by the product
- Integrate use by the consumer
- Reasoning on the complete system of the product to avoid any impact transfer
- Optimize the weight and / or the volume for a defined use value of the product
- Optimize the use of resources and flows during production
- Take into account the end of life of the product
ENERGY RECOVERY
Using combustible packaging waste as a means of generating energy, by direct incineration with or without other waste, but with heat recovery.
Along with existing recycling schemes, energy recovery is a highly advantageous alternative for plastic packaging after use: what is more, it is encouraged by the current legislation (law No. 92-646 of 13/07/92).
Energy recovery is particularly an option for small quantities of plastic packaging and soiled packaging materials for which sorting is technically and/or economically unsuitable for recycling.
It involves using combustible packaging waste as a means of generating energy, by direct incineration with or without other waste, but with heat recovery.
The plastics disposed of in municipal waste incinerators help generate electricity and heat, while using separated fractions such as paper/plastic mixtures as alternative fuels in electricity production plants makes it possible to replace coal, and to lower greenhouse gas emissions.
It is estimated that replacing coal by all the plastic waste that cannot be reasonably recycled would lower greenhouse gas emissions by one quarter and would reduce coal imports required in Europe by 15%.
The fumes emitted by municipal incinerators are not hazardous. Dioxins, for example, are completely eliminated if the temperature is sufficiently high.
This is a popular waste disposal solution with most local authorities.
WHAT IS THE ENERGY GAIN OF THE MOST COMMON PLASTICS?
Recovered energy can be used for district heating or electricity generation.
Each year, 300,000 tonnes of oil equivalent are saved in France.
The recovered energy may be used for urban heating or electricity generation.
Every year, 300,000 tonnes of oil equivalent are saved in this way in France.
airpop® (EPS), an example in terms of energy recovery
Used industrial and commercial airpop® (EPS) packaging stocks which have no viable recycling scheme (small quantity and soiled stocks, at a distance from an existing scheme) are routed to energy recovery.
The high calorific value of airpop® (EPS) facilitates the combustion of the waste simultaneously present in the oven.
1 kg EPS = 1.4 litres of oil
Made up solely of carbon and hydrogen, it does not emit any toxic gases during its combustion
In addition to direct energy savings, it is worth mentioning those generated by recovery of the energy released during waste combustion. The recovered energy is reused is various applications, in the form of electricity, hot water or steam for heating buildings or business parks.