By Phil Sutton, founder of Duraproducts
As Zero Waste Week (September 2-6, 2024) approaches, it is imperative to recognise the critical role of waste reduction. Not only is it an environmental responsibility, but it also presents a significant economic opportunity.
By actively minimising consumption and promoting a circular material flow, individuals and businesses can contribute to a more sustainable future, reducing landfill reliance and maximising resource efficiency.
However, the circular economy is about more than just managing waste, it’s about redesigning our systems to ensure that materials and products are kept in use – and reuse – for as long as possible. Industry stakeholders should be looking at every stage of the supply chain and product lifecycle to achieve a true reduction in resource reliance.
From initial sourcing to the reuse, recycling or carbon recovery, it is vital that energy efficient processes are creating low carbon products. This approach not only lessens the strain on our natural resources but above all drives innovation and efficiency in manufacturing and production.
Today, business operations must be designed with waste reduction and the circular economy in mind – there is no other option. This can be achieved by using post-consumer and post-industrial waste, to reduce the demand for virgin materials and help divert plastic waste from landfills.
Our industry must also consider the longevity of what we’re creating. It sounds simple, yet we’re not seeing it being done enough. Products need to be designed to last, to reduce the frequency of replacement and therefore the overall consumption of resources over time. In addition to being made from long-lasting recycled materials, products need to take end of life potential into consideration too. This means that once a product reaches the end of its initial life, it can be processed and reused to make new products, closing the loop in the product lifecycle.
As a responsible manufacturer, Duraproducts is continually looking for improvement in what we do. Our medium to long term plan is to ultimately bring full control and an improving point of measure to each and every process across the Duraproducts’ lifecycle.
Reducing and offsetting environmental impacts has always been a fundamental factor within our product design. In choosing products with a high recycled content, like Duraproducts, companies immediately eradicate significant risks that waste can present to the natural environment. It also creates a sustained demand for recycled material that drives innovation, so we not only recycle and reuse more in terms of volume but in variety too.
As we continue to develop and implement solutions that reduce waste, we’re helping to build a future where resources are managed more sustainably, supporting both economic growth and environmental protection. Together, we can make a lasting impact and lead the way towards a more sustainable future.
