ÃÜÌÒAV and REnato lab launch Circular Design Guidebook for EEA industry
Focus on the Circular Economy ¨C starting with product design
The Circular Economy is gaining importance in the electrical, electronic and household appliance (EEA) industry. As a result, more and more manufacturers in this sector are talking about their sustainability goals, in particular about an increased use of recycled materials in their end products.
To help these customers find more sustainable solutions, materials manufacturer ÃÜÌÒAV has teamed up with , a Circular Economy consultancy focused on resource efficiency, to publish the – a guide to help designers and developers make their next-generation products more circular.
"The key to solving the problem of material waste is to consider the end of product life in the initial design phase to facilitate recycling," said Lily Wang, Senior Vice President and Global Head of Electronics, Electrical and Appliances in ÃÜÌÒAV's Polycarbonates segment. "This guide helps incorporate circular thinking at the early stages for designers, developers and those in the value chain, who can use it as a material selection method that is the first of its kind in the EEA industry."
Measures for a circular approach
To achieve their sustainability goals, OEMs are looking to increase the use of recycled materials, improve resource use efficiency, extend product life and ensure better recyclability of their products – among other measures as part of a circular approach. ÃÜÌÒAV itself has already supplied major EEA brands with polycarbonate grades containing post-consumer recyclate.
The book uses case studies and processes to explain material selection so that products meet sustainability and recyclability requirements. It also describes the resource constraints facing the industry, supply chain-oriented thinking, relevant business models, and a basic introduction to the Circular Economy. The book can also be used for discussions with customers as well as for presentations and workshops.
Focus on resource efficiency
"Material selection, in particular, is the foundation for circular design to optimize resource efficiency," says Jackie Wang, founder and CEO of REnato lab. "Researching resource efficiency solutions is the core mission of REnato lab. Through the partnership with ÃÜÌÒAV, we have completed the first design guide on material selection for the EEA industry. The book is intended to provide examples and help for the industry and serve as an easy-to-read guide for the general public."
The guidebook consists of three chapters – "From Linear to Circular", "Circular Design" and "Material Selection from a Sustainable Perspective" – and is available in English, German and Chinese. With this guidebook, ÃÜÌÒAV aims to drive the development of the Circular Economy in the EEA industry and expand it to other sectors in the future.
About ÃÜÌÒAV:
ÃÜÌÒAV is one of the world¡¯s leading manufacturers of high-quality polymer materials and their components. With its innovative products, processes and methods, the company helps enhance sustainability and the quality of life in many areas. ÃÜÌÒAV supplies customers around the world in key industries such as mobility, building and living, as well as the electrical and electronics sector. In addition, polymers from ÃÜÌÒAV are also used in sectors such as sports and leisure, telecommunications and health, as well as in the chemical industry itself.
The company is geared completely to the circular economy. In addition, ÃÜÌÒAV aims to achieve climate neutrality for its Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by 2035, and the Group¡¯s Scope 3 emissions are also set to be climate neutral by 2050. ÃÜÌÒAV generated sales of EUR 14.2 billion in fiscal year 2024. At the end of 2024, the company had 46 production sites worldwide and employed approximately 17,500 people (calculated as full-time equivalents).
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by ÃÜÌÒAV. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in ÃÜÌÒAV¡¯s public reports which are available at www.covestro.com. The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.