GERMANY
Armed Angels. “This is not a T-Shirt, This is Trash” – The Circ-Tee
Industry: Fashion/Textile.
Company size: ARMEDANGELS is counting 96 employees and selling a wide range of clothing products via its 900 retail partners and its online shop in more than 30 countries. The company’s annual revenue lies at €35 million. They produce two main collections per year as well as two smaller ones and are one of the most successful fair fashion labels in Germany (ARMEDANGELS Social Report 2019, 2020).
Years of operation: 14 years(Armed Angels was founded in 2007 in Cologne, Germany).
The first implementation of circular practice/project: public launch of Circ-Tee campaign in 2020, as well as Circular Jeans in 2021.
CE Business Model(s) this best practice displays best:
Circular Supply
In 2021 Armed Angels launched their first circular product lines. The goal is to recover fabrics in a way that allows the production of similar-value textiles from them (Shirts become Shirts again) as opposed to lower quality secondary raw materials (Shirts become lower quality textiles like painting fleece or cleaning rags).
Description of the best practice (challenge, practice, benefits)
Challenges
Reducing and eliminating textile waste in the fashion industry
Armedangels tells us in their 2020 Action Report: »12.8 million tons of unused clothes are sent to landfills every year. More than 50% of fast fashion produced is disposed in under one year«. Waste is a big problem in the fashion industry. Even if a product is produced considering ecological and social aspects in the value chain, the problem of waste concerns all from big fashion conglomerates to small ethical labels. Textile waste accumulates in all steps of the fashion supply chain:
Waste during the production process: during the production, process fabric gets wasted during the cutting process. These textile scraps most of the time end up as garbage.
Waste from industry dead stock: the business model of the fashion industry is built on overproduction. Due to difficult planning and errors in sales forecasting large amounts of clothing do not get sold. Also, products with little defects do not make it into stores and end up as waste.
Waste from fast and overconsumption (end of product life): the way how we consume clothing has dramatically changed over the last twenty years. With fast fashion growing and new trends and collections flooding the market almost weekly, clothes get bought cheap and are worn less and less. The average American for example buys a new piece of clothing every four to five days.
In 2018, the fashion industry created 92 million tons of textile waste globally.
Save virgin resources (mainly cotton) and eliminate hazards for people and the environment
(Organic) cotton: effects on the environment & people
Beyond an incomprehensible amount of textile waste, the industry has many other far-reaching impacts on the environment. Especially in the area of material sourcing, conventional cotton production uses high levels of pesticides. In order to achieve good yields, cotton production also requires high amounts of water with many regions facing serious droughts and the shrinkage of natural water reserves. For every tone of textiles produced, up to 200 tons of water are used. Further, workers in the cotton fields work under tough conditions and child labour is often not an exception. Even though genetically modified cotton plants are more resistant to plagues and hence need fewer pesticides, a side effect often is the occurrence of so-called ‘super weeds’, resulting in even more toxic pesticides that are harmful to the environment and humans.
Armedangels is already following strict standards and uses only organic cotton in their production, thus guaranteeing humane working conditions and no use of pesticides, as well as less water usage and CO2 emissions. They even founded their own organic cotton cooperative in India, helping farmers to switch their production to organic standards. Nevertheless, they are convinced that the biggest impact can only be achieved by using as few virgin materials as possible and instead of focusing only on organic production, rethink the entire system: »If others follow us, or we as an industry work together to develop better systems, we will have accomplished more than if we wait and rest on the sustainable and fair organic cotton shirts« says Lavinia Muth, Armedangels’ sustainability manager in an interview.
Goal
Armed Angels aims »to be wasteless & circular« by 2030 so that none of their products will go to incinerators or will be disposed of in landfills (ARMEDANGELS CR Strategy Paper, 2020).
Practices
Implementation and approaches
Armedangels is implementing a fibre-to-fibre recycling approach. Here, old organic cotton fibres get recycled to become an equal quality textile product again (vs. for example a lower-quality textile or a product from a different category, e.g. plastic bottles becoming shoes or bags).
Before the actual production process, Armedangels needs to collect the used textiles that will then be given a new life. First, the company uses their own cutting waste as well as 2nd choice items to be recycled. Moreover, the company established a take-back mechanism for their customers to collect their old pieces.
Armedangels production of the circular yarn, which then gets used to produce the new fashion pieces, is done at their partner’s facilities in Spain and Portugal. After all, the used fabric is separated depending on the material and similar colouring it gets torn apart. In various steps the old fabric gets crushed until it »becomes loose, fluffy fibres again« (Armedangels). After being enriched and mixed with sustainable fibre, the recycled fibres get merged and spun into Armedangels Circular Yarn.
In the case of the Circular Denim, the recycled fabric gets mixed with virgin organic cotton and spun to the new yarn by their Spanish partner Recovertex. The yarn gets dyed in Portugal with a Dry-Indigo-technique, which uses no water. Further, 89% of chemicals can be reduced in this production method and energy consumption gets reduced by 65% compared to the conventional indigo dying process.
In order to guarantee a continuous circular supply for their production, Armedangels is establishing a take-back system for their products. The company wants to educate and incentivize customers to send back products once they reached the end of their life and are not worn by the consumer any longer. The consumer can easily sign up for the take-back system online, receives a return label to send back the product and moreover receives a 5€ Voucher to use with their next Armedangels purchase.
Beyond their innovation in offering fully circular product solutions, Armedangels also works towards pushing the longevity of products. They are currently working on providing repair service and are already giving repair tips to their customers.
Resources
With their circular product lines, Armedangels aims to keep resources in a cycle ultimately cutting virgin materials out of the system or keeping them, where necessary, to an absolute minimum:
Circular Denim: Armedangels’ Circular Denim line is the first to incorporate 20% recycled organic cotton from the company’s own cutting scraps, as well as second choice materials. The company started collecting their jersey cutting waste in 2018. Through this approach, the brand achieves zero-waste production. Moreover, the piece itself is designed for a circular life. Their production partner Denim Authority in Tunesia sews and refines the product in ways that make it easy to be reassembled at the end of life: “Designed to be kept in the cycle: easy to remove components such as unscrewable buttons, also printed labels and embroidery instead of rivets. Optimal to be recycled after a long life!”
Circ Tee: In the first production cycle of the product the company uses 50% recycled organic cotton. Further, 50% TENCEL™ Lyocell, a sustainable material made from wood, is added to produce the shirt.
To establish a circular system of their products, the company is establishing a take-back system with their customers in order to keep resources in the loop (see above).
Obstacles
Consumer awareness and habits
A circular transition cannot be done by few pioneers alone. This will take the awareness and efforts of all. Brands and producers can develop and provide circular products, but moreover will need to educate consumers and push awareness on the issue. In order to keep a circular system running, people will need to adapt to take-back systems in order to keep materials in the production loop. Companies need to establish services accordingly and set up infrastructure to reach a constant resource supply from used products.
Technology
Currently, fibres can be recycled between five to seven times through mechanical recycling processes. This is due to the fact that the fibres get a little shorter with each new mechanical recycling process. Companies like Armedangels are working with partners to improve these numbers.
In order for a circular system to work, industries need well-functioning and established recycling systems. In the fashion industry, many of these are still in the piloting or development phase. It will need joint efforts and collaboration by industry players, technological developments as well as investments in new processes in order to get circular textile production-ready for the mass market.
Benefits
Main benefits
Armedangels’ circular items and the company’s constant development towards increasing circularity in their supply chain pushes forward the sustainable fashion movement and sends a strong signal to other fashion brands.
The companies’ transparent communication and their dedication to educating their customers about practices and issues in the textile industry enhance the awareness and understanding of consumers in regards to sustainable and circular practices.
The company reduces their own material cost as deadstock as well as production scraps and damaged goods can be kept in the production process and reused in their circular products.
Further, a focus on sustainable production practices results in the resource-saving of water, chemicals and CO2 along the production chain, ultimately benefitting the environment and society as well as companies saving through efficiency gains.
Main lessons learned
The circular production and consumption model aimed by Armed Angels aims to revolutionize the textile and fashion industry. This best practice example shows that it can be done.
Their journey towards launching their first circular items also demonstrates how awareness and partnership play a key role in establishing circular consumption and production patterns. The company is working with their customers’ support as well as in close collaboration with their production facility partners to shift the fashion system towards circularity by pushing technical solutions, as well as behavioural change and awareness building.
Sources
ARMEDANGELS (2020). Corporate Responsibility Strategy Paper. Retrieved on 20.05.2021 from: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZocKwiE4PfHdq0XvxL6ylVDU7YPGJrIL/view.
ARMEDANGELS (2020). Social Report. Retrieved on 03.05.2020 from: https://www.armedangels.de/media/wysiwyg/fairwear/SR_2019_2.pdf.
ARMEDANGELS (2021). Action Report 2020. Retrieved on 06.05.2021 from:
https://www.armedangels.com/media/28/3d/8f/1618501485/ARMEDANGELS-Action-Report-2020.pdf
ARMEDANGELS: https://www.armedangels.com/wo-en.
Damme, S. & Schmitz, M. (2020). We all need to dress, but at what cost?, in Sustainability Teaching Case Studies. p. 16-40. Retrieved on 22.05.2021 from:
https://de.scribd.com/document/507336506/ISSUE-Methodology-Handbook-II-Collection-of-Teaching-Cases#download.
Leonhardt, I. (2021). Armedangels entwickelt zirkuläres T-Shirt. Retrieved on 21.05.2021 from:
https://de.fashionnetwork.com/news/Armedangels-entwickelt-zirkulares-t-shirt,1259722.html.
Schluechter, A. (2020). Armed Angels setzt mit Kreislaufwirtschaft den Mode-Müllbergen ein Ende. Retrieved 01.06.2021 from:
https://www.sazsport.de/hersteller/performance-days/armed-angels-setzt-kreislaufwirtschaft-mode-muellbergen-ende-2614351.html.
Schluechter, A. (2021). Armedangels präsentiert Circular Denim. Retrieved on 21.05.2021 from: https://www.sazsport.de/hersteller/nachhaltigkeit/armedangels-praesentiert-circular-denim-2665245.html.
Kleiderei. The limitless closet – renting instead of buying. Let’s consume slower together!
Industry: Textile and apparel industry.
Company size: Kleiderei currently has two operating stores in Cologne and Freiburg (previously also one in Hamburg). They have also been experimenting with online renting and shipment of clothing items across Germany. There are now several thousand clothing items to be found for renting or purchasing purposes.
Years of operation: 9 years (Kleiderei was founded in 2012 in Hamburg, Germany).
The first implementation of circular practice/project: in addition to sharing and purchasing second-hand items, clothes renting subscription has been introduced (four items per month) and an online shop has been set up temporarily (the monthly subscription rate for the online option was 34EUR per month).
CE Business Model(s) this best practice displays best:
(Choose from Circular Supply; Resource Recovery; Product Life Extension; Sharing Platform; Product as a Service)
Sharing Platform / Product Life Extension: Kleiderei encourages to share, exchange, or buy second-hand clothing items. Especially noteworthy is their idea of monthly clothes renting subscription (29EUR per month) where users could rent four new items from Kleiderei each month. Through sharing clothes between consumers, resource efficiency is ensured in addition to product life extension because items are worn for a much longer product life span.
Description of the best practice (challenge, practice, benefits)
Challenge
Challenges addressed:
Today’s fashion industry still functions mostly as a linear economy: clothing is produced from non-renewable resources and with a disregard for the environment, promoting exploitation, poverty, and pollution. Through excessive buying behaviour and purchases of new items, consumers support this system. Some clothing items are just worn 2-4 times (Wiebking, 2016) and 40% of the closet are not worn at all (Kleiderei, 2020) before they finally end up in the clothing container or in the trash before being incinerated. In addition to that many chemicals are used during the production process and there are hardly any quality-preserving solutions for discarded materials so that large parts are downcycled – an enormous ecological and economic loss of value. At the same time, many manufacturers are producing more and more low-quality clothing, which has greatly affected the way clothing is treated and valued in recent decades (Kleiderrei, 2020).
Goals and ambitions:
Kleiderei wants to collect garments and compile them into a «large, common closet that is accessible to all». This circular business model is a counter-design to the fast-fashion industry but doesn’t compromise on the variety in closets or the joy and fun fashion can bring to people. The thoughtful use and awareness for resource usage in the textile industry is their main concern. Thus, they share existing fast and fair fashion garments instead of buying new pieces, avoiding wrong purchases, extending the life of garments, and achieving the maximum usage duration (Kleiderei, 2020).
Through this circular economy approach, waste is reduced, and an incredible amount of CO2 is saved. Beyond that, Kleiderei engages in educational measures through their podcast Kleiderei Radio and other materials, such as how to do your laundry properly in order to ensure the longevity of your clothing items. Furthermore, members of Kleiderei take part in activism and awareness-raising campaigns on overconsumption, the new sustainable supply chain act or SWAP IT events.
Practice
Implementation and approaches:
Kleiderei is short for clothes library. It started out with a first store in Hamburg and further stores in Cologne and Freiburg followed. The founders of Kleiderei, Pola Fendel und Thekla Wilkening started this project in Hamburg at the end of 2012 as a solution to the “I-have-nothing-to-dress” problem and at the same time wanted to offer an alternative to the throwaway culture we have established in the textile industry. In 2014, the founders started a crowdfunding campaign (Startnext, 2014) to set up an online shop after no deal was achieved in the German TV show “Höhle der Löwen” (similar to Shark Tank in the US).
The pieces you can rent show a broad style of women’s fashion varying from vintage, high-quality basics and fair fashion. For 29 EUR per month, customers can rent clothing items from the local shops. If no local store is available nearby, an online shop was available for which subscription fees of 34 euros a month were charged. For both options, customers can order four items of clothing every four weeks. To make sure you like the clothes, you have to answer a few style questions when you register. After four weeks, you send the clothes back and get four new pieces in return. It is also possible to keep your favourite pieces longer and buy them if you can’t part with them (Schauberger, 2016). When selecting items via the website, dresses marked green can be rented and those marked in red are already taken. Ordering a surprise package was an additional option (Scherkamp, 2015).
Resources:
Getting new clothing items is currently done along three main routes. First, anyone can send in past favourite pieces or wrong purchases. Second, clothing items from flea markets are lost and found, and vintage stores are collected. Third, collaboration with other organizations and slow fashion designers is fostered.
During a certain period, Kleiderei has been made accessible online, enabled through the funding sum of 15,000 euros via the crowdfunding platform Startnext. The main goal was to recruit additional staff that enabled the setup of the online shop and logistics infrastructure.
Obstacles:
Among the most pressing obstacles, the founders had closed their small store in Hamburg to meet the rising online demand. However, they mentioned that they wanted to turn the shops into showrooms with regular events such as flea markets, exhibitions, cake afternoons (Scherkamp, 2015). In addition to the rising online demand, sending and dealing with returned clothing items ready for the next exchange is labour intensive from a packaging and logistics perspective. Furthermore, social aspects like awareness for the topic, convenience or belonging need to be addressed.
SPAIN
Jeanologia. Production to use zero water and create zero waste: Laundry 5.Zero (the first garment finishing plant)
Industry: Textile & apparel Industry. NACE Code 46.64 – Develops, produces and distributes machines for the textile industry. Based on sustainable and eco-efficient technologies for the garments and fabrics finishing.
Company size: Nowadays Jeanologia is present in 68 countries and over 35% of the 5 billion jeans produced worldwide every year are made with Jeanologia technologies. A team of more than 200 people from all backgrounds makes this possible. Jeanologia has obtained 2019 the first position in the ranking of companies in its sector.
Source: https://ranking-empresas.eleconomista.es/JEANOLOGIA.html.
Years of operation: 27 years (Jeanologia was founded in 1994 in Valencia, Spain).
The first implementation of circular practice/project:
Producing fully sustainable garments is possible already, but to do so the textile industry needs a comprehensive transformation, with digitalization at its core. To that end, it is necessary to combine different technologies appearing a new concept of laundry: Laundry 5.Zero.
CE Business Model(s) this best practice displays best:
(Choose from Circular Supply; Resource Recovery; Product Life Extension; Sharing Platform; Product as a Service)
Circular Supply & Resource Recovery.
The digital transformation proposed by Jeanologia combats one of the major environmental problems applying to the jeans industry: “closing the circle of the water cycle”.
Description of the best practice (challenge, practice, benefits)
Challenges:
Creating an environmentally friendly, sustainable and eco-efficient textile & apparel industry.
ZEROSubstances of Concerns
In a Laundry 5.Zero it is possible to produce sustainably at an industrial scale, eliminating the most harmful and labour-intensive garment finishing processes. 5.Zero means Zero manual scrapping & grinding, Zero PP Spray, Zero bleach, Zero stones and Zero discharge; but it also means an opening for infinite creative possibilities.
ZERO Dangerous practices
No chemical spraying and no manual scraping
Goals:
Jeanologia wants to lead the transformation of the textile industry with its technologies (laser and ecosystems) that enhance productivity, reduce water and energy consumption and eliminate damaging emissions and waste, guaranteeing ZERO contamination.
Practices:
Implementation and approaches
Laundry 5.Zero is the first garment finishing plant that guarantees zero pollution and achieves a saving of 85% in water. Achieving the 5 Zeros is possible thanks to the combination of Jeanologia’s technologies: the laser, the ozone, the flow and the H2zero. A collection can be developed under the concept of zero discharge, zero manual scrapings, zero potassium permanganate, zero stones and zero bleach.
This new agile and efficient way of producing drastically reduces lead-time from months to weeks or even days, adapting to the new market needs, according to Jeanologia.
The choice of fabric is essential to achieve a collection like 5.Zero. For this reason, Jeanologia analyses how denim reacts with new sustainable processes, in order to achieve the desired washes and looks, reducing water consumption, chemicals and energy.
Resources
Traditional textile industry business model: Artisanal and intensive hand labour.
The key factors: artisans, craftsman knowledge and hand labour force.
Jeanologia business model: Intensive in capital goods and design engineering.
The key factors: investment capacity in capital goods such as technology and automatism.
Jeanologia goes a step further and offers all the technology and tools necessary for the textile industry to achieve the perfect communication throughout the process, and thereby, be more efficient and competitive with a completely sustainable product. Developing internally the software for the perfect performance of the equipment, to get the best sustainable design. Along with EIM (Environmental Impact Measurement), the tool to score garments sustainability.
Obstacles
Many of suppliers in emerging markets are at the very early stages of developing their production processes, management techniques, regulatory certification and compliance, and quality systems. Because many suppliers also tend to be small to mid-sized companies, they often have limited resources for improvement.
Benefits:
Main benefits
Jeanologia operational model has five fundamental benefits to the textile industry: it is eco-efficient, cost-neutral, scalable, agile and digital; connecting design, production and consumer. It is rapidly expanding globally guaranteeing competitiveness through eco-efficiency. With these technologies, it is also possible to do short and fast series, making it possible to produce what sells instead of selling what is produced.
This innovative production process also reduces to a minimum the use of water and chemicals, obtaining significant savings, eliminating discharge and all the processes that are harmful to workers and the environment
Main lessons learned
The innovative process proposed by Jeanologia reduces to a minimum the use of water and chemicals, obtaining significant savings and eliminating discharge; helping companies to reduce their environmental footprint, lower costs and taking care of workers’ health.
Source: https://www.jeanologia.com.
Logifruit.: Circular logistics: Management of reusable packaging for the transport of consumer goods.
Industry: 360º Logistics.
Company size: 14 logistics platforms, a workforce of more than 1.223 people and a total of 17 million containers between boxes and reusable pallets that made more than 307 million movements in 2019.
At present, it has about 1,022 clients spread throughout all the provinces of Spain and exports its packaging to seven countries.
Years of operations: 25 years.
The first implementation of circular practice/project: 1996: Start of the activity as a logistics operator to provide service to Mercadona´s fruit and vegetable suppliers with the aim of creating a sustainable, innovative and economic model.
CE Business Model(s) this best practice displays best: Product life extension
Description of the best practice (challenge, practice, benefits)
Challenges
Challenges LOGIFRUIT is addressing through its business model:
From 3R to 6R: Logifruit evolves the concept of the 3Rs of the circular economy with a model that is committed to an expanded system of Rs: Rationalize, Reduce, Redesign, Reuse, Repair and Recycle.
Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. These three concepts are the three commandments of the circular economy, also known as the 3Rs; that contribute to shaping a model of sustainable growth and ecological efficiency.
Logifruit was designed on this premise, his economic activity model; focused on the washing, sanitization, classification, storage and rental of boxes, pallets and pallets for the transport of consumer goods in the supply network.
Over the last 25 years, we have carried out the implementation of these 3Rs of the circular economy, to create a model that is committed to innovation; with the aim of minimizing the impact of our activity on the environment and making the goal of Waste 0 a reality.
Thanks to its experience, Logifruit has been expanding this traditional 3Rs, evolving towards its own system, which has allowed us to establish three new actions, with respect to the traditional model of the circular economy. This is how we have formed our 6R system: Rationalize, Reduce, Redesign, Reuse, Repair and Recycle.
The R for Repair was the first of the variables to be introduced, thanks to the modular arrangement of our boxes, pallets and pallets. This design allows us to replace damaged parts, quickly and easily, without having to discard the rest of the product. And, in addition, sending the parts that cannot be repaired to be recycled, shred them and produce new packaging.
For its part, the R for Rationalize arises from the commitment to reduce the impact of each of our processes, in order to do more with less. To this end, we are committed to the continuous implementation of improvements that allow us to make better use of resources such as water or energy, among others.
Finally, the R of Redesign is part of our commitment to the search for more efficient designs, both for our packaging and for our processes.
From 3R to 6R. This has been the path that Logifruit has travelled for the last 25 years.
Challenges faced by LOGIFRUIT are poor circular regulation, harmonization of existing legislation, lack of incentives and high initial investments.
In this year marked by the global health and economic crisis, as a result of the covid-19, Logifruit has been able to absorb the increase in work to meet the high demand at the beginning of the confinement, «thanks to the effort made by the entire team», which It has allowed the year to end with «sustained growth», the company highlighted in a statement.
Despite the pandemic, Logifruit has continued with its investment policy. Thanks to this, the company has reached the highest production levels in its history. In 2020, the company’s packaging made more than 320 million movements, 5% more than the previous year.
Goals and ambitions:
Despite the global health and economic crisis brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic, Logifruit has been able to absorb the increase in work to meet the high demand at the beginning of the confinement and ended 2020 with «sustained growth», the company highlighted in a statement.
Since its opening, the company has opted for a business model based on the circular economy. Through their 6R system (Rationalize, Reduce, Redesign, Reuse, Repair, Recycle), they seek, not only to minimize their environmental footprint but to achieve a positive impact, also generating 0 Waste. Thanks to this efficient management, in 2020 alone, the company has managed to save 767 tons of CO2 emissions to the environment and 551 tons of recycled plastics.
The constant investment in innovation, to automate processes and make them more efficient, the application of technological solutions to achieve significant reductions of 20% in CO2 consumption in a period of 5 years, as well as the optimization of its transport routes and the search for continuous improvement of workflows have earned LOGIFRUIT international recognition and awards.
Practice
Logifruit follows a circular economy strategy both in its internal process and in its external process.
In its internal process, eco-design is key to reducing the use of raw materials, facilitating the reuse of containers, repair to extend container’s useful life and recycling for the manufacture of new containers. The boxes and pallets are sanitized and repaired, if necessary, after each use, to re-enter the logistics circuit.
In turn, in their external process, the containers follow a closed circuit. Assets travel from facilities to those of the customers, who use them to transport their products up the distribution chain. Once the distribution chain has disposed of the products, the boxes are returned to the Logifruit facilities. In addition, the folding boxes allow maximum optimization in their transport, at the same time that they facilitate the replacement and repair of moving parts for their better use.
The relevance of this good practice is circumscribed within the following areas of action:
Design and Production: Promotion of goods, products or services that meet the criteria for the design and manufacture of sustainable products and goods.
Consumption, Use and Business: Measures promoting repair and remodelling: repair and maintenance of the defective or old product so that it can be used with its original function, maintaining the level of quality.
Resource and Responsibility Management: the application of circularity measures achieves the business values that are reflected in the CSR reports and reports.
Responsibility to people: Equality and Equity.
Responsibility with the Environment: Sustainable growth.
Responsibility to Society: Contribution to Social Programs.
Responsibility with Transparency: Ethics and Integrity.
Benefits
- Make the most of resources and processes.
- Reduce waste generation and inefficiencies, which translates into fewer expenses, while preserving the environment.
- Ensure the economic future of the activity through sustainable growth, which is passed on to employees.
- Offer customers great competitiveness in services and prices, with an efficient closed loop for the management of their assets, which also has the added value of constituting an environmentally responsible logistics service.
Voices from the company:
Logifruit wins the Corporate Innovation Award for Plug and Play. ´´Las Provincias´´newspaper.
Logifruit has been the winner of the Plug and Play Corporate Innovation Award in the Supply Chain and Logistics category. This recognition is given to those companies that are more involved with innovation and that have implemented more technologies in their business in the last year, with Logifruit being the first Spanish company to win this international award.
«We are aware that investment in innovation will allow us to continue growing in a sustainable and sustained way, so through an open innovation approach we create opportunities for co-innovation aligned with our corporate purpose: connecting supply networks in a sustainable way», declares Pedro Ballester, CEO of Logifruit [1]
«People are and constitute the main value of our company because thanks to their work and effort we have been able to respond quickly and effectively to this new situation. In addition, the company has invested 17 million euros that have allowed it to face the automation of processes productive and consolidate itself as a ‘pool’ of reference containers, whose priority is quality, and with a clear sustainable return «, highlighted its CEO, Pedro Ballester[2].
Sources:
Catalogue of Good Practices in Circular Economy.
Government of Spain.
Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge.
General Directorate of Quality and Environmental Assessment.
Subdirectorate General for Circular Economy.
www.logifruit.es
www.lasprovincias.es
www.valenciaplaza.com
Link to: https://www.lasprovincias.es/economia/startups/logifruit-gana-corporate-20200225123630-nt.html?ref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F
Link to: https://valenciaplaza.com/logifruit-factura-137-millones-2020-5-mas-anterior
SLOVENIA
Textina. Industry Cooperation – Textina & The NEW COTTON PROJECT
Industry: TEXTILE
Company size: 75 employees
Years of operation: from 1828
The first implementation of circular practice/project: 2015
CE Business Model(s) this best practice displays best: Resource Recovery
(Choose from Circular Supply; Resource Recovery; Product Life Extension; Sharing Platform; Product as a Service)
Description of the best practice (challenge, practice, benefits)
Tekstina presents a tradition dating back to 1928, where our story as an imperial private mechanical spinning mill began. Focussed on fulfilling the needs of the most demanding customers, we always look beyond generation to propose solutions adapted to the changing needs of our customers. In Tekstina preserving the planet and conducting sustainable operations is embedded in our more than 190-year-long tradition. Our values of persevering and respecting our natural and social environment is a key factor of our long-lasting success. The story of Tekstina is a story of constant progress, creativity and innovation-oriented in new solutions that provide more comfort for our customers and less carbon impact on our planet.
The corporate and social responsibility of Tekstina in its environment has been one of the company’s major ethical values since 1828. The responsibility toward its local environment extends beyond the statutory obligation to improve the quality of life for employees and their families as well as for the local community. Tekstina also works in the local area, especially through guided tours throughout the year for schools, donations to support local cultural, educational, artistic and sports events, and cooperation with schools, universities and associations.
Tekstina sells 100% of their fabric waste from production for reuse, providing an additional source of income for the company while at the same time keeping waste material in the production loop.
The company has been actively working on recycling cellulose fibres for the last 5 years through several EU projects: Trash-2-cash, RESYNTEX, and New Cotton Project. The New Cotton Project is presented here in more detail: ‘New Cotton Project’
Description of the best practice (challenge, practice, benefits)
Challenge
There is “high potential for circularity within the textile industry,” explains the EU, but also notes that there is an “urgent need” for the development of technologies to produce and design sustainable and circular bio-based materials. Making sustainable products commonplace, reducing waste and leading global efforts on circularity are outlined in the European Commission’s EU Circular Economy Action Plan as necessary for Europe’s efforts to drive sustainable growth.
Goals and Ambitions
It is hoped by funding ‘New Cotton Project’ alongside a consortium of partners from Finland, Portugal, Sweden, Germany, The Netherlands, Slovenia and Turkey, it will help directly addresses what the EU calls “critical issues” while pioneering the implementation of a circular operating model for the textile industry.
The ‘New Cotton Project’ is in direct response to the fact that most of the textile industry’s environmental problems relate to the raw materials used by the industry: cotton, fossil-based fibres such as polyester, and viscose as the most common man-made cellulosic fibre, are all associated with serious environmental concerns.
It is hoped that this research initiative will offer a “valuable solution for textile waste and an alternative to the industry’s reliance on virgin materials like cotton”. The project recaptures the valuable raw materials in discarded clothing and regenerates them back into high-quality, cellulose-based fibres that can be spun into new yarn, woven into new fabric, and designed into new clothes – again and again.
As this is the first project of its kind, the consortium also notes that this is an opportunity to identify and find solutions for potential bottlenecks to scaling up circular textile production and for calculating the environmental impacts over the lifecycle of textiles.
Practice
Twelve pioneering players in the fashion and textile industries are breaking new ground by demonstrating an entirely circular model for commercial garment production. This is a world-first in the fashion industry. The consortium of brands, manufacturers, suppliers, innovators and research institutes participating in the European Union-funded “New Cotton Project”, will prove that circular, sustainable fashion is not only ambition but can be achieved today. The project also aims to act as an inspiration and steppingstone for further, even bigger circular initiatives in the industry going forward.
Tekstina is part of the project to harness fashion industry collaborations and technology to create circular fashion.
The twelve participating fashion companies and brands include Adidas and the H&M Group, alongside Finnish biotechnology group Infinited Fiber Company, Aalto University, Fashion for Good, Frankenhuis, Inovafil, Kipas Textiles, REvolve Waste, Rise, Tekstina, and Xamk.
The project, which has received 6.7 million euros in funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme, aims to not only demonstrate an entirely circular model for commercial garment production.
To demonstrate circularity in textiles, over a three-year period textile waste will be collected, sorted and regenerated into Finnish biotechnology group Infinited Fiber Company’s unique, cellulose-based textile fibres. The fibres will be used to create different types of fabrics for clothing that will be designed, manufactured and sold by global brand Adidas and companies in the H&M Group, explained the project in a statement.
The initiative will also include at the end-of-use, apparel take-back programmes that will collect the clothing to determine the next phase in their lifecycle. Clothing that can no longer be worn will be returned for regeneration into new fibers, “further contributing to a circular economy in which textiles never go to waste, but are reused, recycled or regenerated into new garments instead”.
Benefits through
Cooperation along the value chain with a multiple stakeholder approach:
Technological solution
Infinited Fiber Company, whose patented technology can regenerate cellulose-rich textile waste into unique fibres that look and feel like cotton, is leading the consortium of 12 companies and organisations that span the entire supply chain.
Manufacturers
Manufacturers Inovafil, Tekstina and Kipas will use the regenerated fibres to produce yarns, woven fabrics and denim respectively.
Retailers
Adidas and companies in the H&M Group will design, manufacture and sell clothing made from the fabrics.
In addition, sportswear brand Adidas will also be collecting customer feedback and insights and, developing its textile take-back programme to reintegrate returned apparel back into the loop.
Waste Stream Management
Other members of the consortium, including Frankenhuis, will sort and pre-process the textile waste used in the project, while the South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences (Xamk) will develop a technical solution for the continuous processing of textile waste fibres for pre-treatment. REvolve Waste will collect and manage data on textile waste to estimate feedstock availability in Europe and define the grade of the used textile waste.
Research & Eco-Labeling
Rise, the research institute of Sweden, will conduct the sustainability and techno-economic analyses for the project together with Infinited Fiber Company, as well as managing the eco-labelling for the project and subsequent fabrics and garments. While Finland’s Aalto University will analyse the created ecosystem and circular business models more broadly to help define the most feasible business model for the project.
Cooperation and Training
Sustainable fashion innovation platform Fashion for Goodwill facilitate stakeholder cooperation and conduct training, leading all project communication, branding and dissemination with support from Aalto University and Infinited Fiber Company.
Sources:
CPU. RE-USE CENTER
Company size: small-medium-enterprise; 35 employees (of which 15 are full time) at six locations in Slovenia
Years of operation: 10.
The first implementation of circular practice/project: 2010 – Circular use of resources
CE Business Model(s) this best practice displays best:
Resource Recovery; Product Life Extension; Sharing Platform; Product as a Service
(Choose from Circular Supply; Resource Recovery; Product Life Extension; Sharing Platform; Product as a Service)
Description of the best practice (challenge, practice, benefits)
Challenge
CPU’s production and sale of quality and innovative textile products made of ecological and recycled materials succeed on both local and national markets. The current system for producing, distributing, and using clothing is putting pressure on resources, pollutes and degrades ecosystems. Nowadays, when disposed of, clothing still has at least 70% of its useful life left. CPU regularly employs 12-15 people, and 15 participants are involved throughout the year throughout the training including persons with disabilities and long-term unemployed elderly women. The main activities of the REUSE CENTER are:
Collection of used equipment repair and re-use of electrical and electronic products, small household appliances (WEEE), furniture and bulky materials, sports equipment and children’s books, toys and other equipment;
Innovative renovation, redesign, work under contract for clients;
Collection, classification, diagnosis and redistribution of textile products;
Awareness campaigns, participation in international projects, exchange of best practices and support businesses to achieve prioritization of waste.
“We use only what already exists” is the main aim of CPU. Clothing is brought to their reuse centres all over Slovenia almost non-stop. Therefore, they offer the opportunity for people to bring their textile, most like jeans products that they no longer use and show them what all can be made from their pants or jackets.
Their role is therefore crucial to raise awareness of the importance of preventing the generation of textile waste, reusing and manufacturing upcycling and reuse products from discarded textiles.
Goals and ambitions of the best practice
The aim of the CPU is to promote a sustainable development model that takes into account the following three pillars in the field of resource management, in particular, textile waste:
• Environmental protection: waste prevention through awareness, education, preparation of clothing for reuse, upcycling, recycling.
• Social equality: social activities such as the integration of the hard-to-employ into the labour market and training.
• Economic viability: job creation and training opportunities for a socially responsible lifestyle.
CPU Slovenia works to promote re-use and upcycling for the purpose of improving the quality of people’s lives, reducing resource consumption, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and ecological footprint, and new employment opportunities specifically for the long-term unemployed. Their goal is to create a business opportunity in the waste sector while providing employment to vulnerable groups in the labour market.
Another strategic goal is the production of innovative products from used equipment and potential waste for the purpose of improving people’s lives, especially low-income families, people with special needs, children and youth with health problems. They aim to showcase the opportunities within the Green Economy and innovative product design in the circular economy.
Practice
Implementation and approaches
The Reuse Center (CPU) operates as a social enterprise in the reuse sector at six locations in Slovenia. In addition to full-time employees (15), it employs hard-to-employ people and provides training, which contributes to the social integration of this target group by employing a total of 35 people in the social economy network in this sector. To “reuse” is ranked second in terms of waste management priorities, i.e. before “recycling”, which gives an even more important role to such activities. EU Directive 98/2008 pays special attention to the implementation of procedures to ensure re-use. CPU has two brands, CPU Design and CPU Nostalgia, with their mission being: to use only what already exists. All materials used to make the products were identified as redundant, even as waste. CPU takes over surplus products as well as industrial surplus materials and transforms them into new, useful products through an «upcycling» process. Upcycling is the process of transforming materials intended for destruction into new products of higher value and environmental purposes.
Required resources for implementation (HR, time, infrastructure, etc.)
HR: CPU carries out the activity in a network and in cooperation with stakeholders in the local environment. Network operation is important for the acquisition of input materials and production.
The CPU network regularly employs 12-15 people, and 15 participants are involved throughout the year throughout the training.
Time: –
Infrastructure: For reducing & reuse & upcycling – industrial sewing machines, material collection vehicle
Obstacles
Insufficient knowledge of the value of waste reduction and reuse by decision-makers
The market price does not cover labour costs, which are high in Slovenia
There is no support in providing preventive activities that contribute to reducing consumption and sustainable lifestyle patterns
Benefits
CPU provides activities that contribute to a local circular economy. They have developed a business model for material recycling and design, which attracts attention and is seen as an innovative and future proof way of running a business.
The social function of their centres has been a success. By including social employment as one of their key functions, the business model is innovative and provides new opportunities.
Knowledge exchange between other similar initiatives. CPU Slovenia expressed the benefits they experienced after joining European networks such as the RREUSE network and also emphasized the need for a platform for knowledge exchange between other similar centres and initiatives.
Here are some figures from 2020, showing CPU’s impact:
In 2020 CPU Slovenia had around 35 000 visitors, both through repair and DIY workshops they organized, visitors at the centres and meetings arranged with the local community.
Around 175 000 re-useable products were sold.
They received 470 tons for preparation to re-use.
140 tons of waste were prevented through re-use.
Their sales amounted to 144000 Euros.
15 persons were employed full time in CPU Slovenia.
What can be the main lessons learned from the best practice in regard to pushing forward the Circular Economy agenda within the business?
CPU Slovenia contributes to the conservation of resources, raw materials, as re-use does not require new materials. According to CPU Slovenia, by 2020 it is necessary to provide 9 kg/person for re-use. The current situation is that only 1.5kg/person is re-used. Waste is a resource for local jobs since the implementation can be carried out at the local level. From bulky waste, they have estimated that around 8% can be channelled into re-use activities.
Economic: CPU Slovenia helps reduce structural unemployment by providing vocational training to the long-term unemployed. They create new resources from waste, which increases the value of waste products. It promotes social and economic development in the local areas they operate in. By also stimulating new environmental services and green technology, they contribute to increased competitiveness and local added value.
Environmental: Through the reuse centres, CPU Slovenia contributes to increasing the lifespan of products by promoting re-use and waste prevention. This also reduces the need for new products and new natural resources. The centres also promote a more sustainable lifestyle addressing young people promoting the consumption of second-hand products. They also encourage new business cases using secondary raw materials.
Social: By employing marginal long-term unemployed people, CPU Slovenia helps to reintegrate people into society. When selling re-usable products at a lower price, more affordable also to low-income groups they also contribute to evening out social inequalities. CPU Slovenia also contributes to creating a social platform to meet other people, in the local community through their centres, organizing workshops and other social events.
ITALY
Fili Pari. Research and development of unconventional materials for the textile industry
Industry: Innovative Start-Up in the TEXTILE industry
Company size: 2 founders
Years of operation: 7
The first implementation of circular practice/project: 2014 (brand first registered)
CE Business Model(s) this best practice displays best: Resource recovery
(Choose from Circular Supply; Resource Recovery; Product Life Extension; Sharing Platform; Product as a Service)
Description of the best practice (challenge, practice, benefits)
Challenge
»Every day the fashion industry produces a number of garments that far exceeds the needs of the population, and it’s time to close the loop. They firmly believe in the philosophy of reuse and recycling, which is why they recover and collect second-hand Fili Pari garments to be able to transform them into new products, slowing down the negative impact that the textile sector has on our environment.«
Goals and ambitions of the best practice
Fili Pari is an innovative Start-Up focused on research and development of unconventional materials for the textile industry, respecting the territory and the environment. The Start-Up is a specialist in the development of cutting-edge technologies for the enhancement of marble powders. Fili Pari aims to contribute to protect the land and valleys from mountains dismemberment and encourage the use of by-products as a raw material. Thus, Fili Pari promotes the responsible use of our planet’s resources, minimising material consumption to ensure the least possible waste. Thanks to the zero-waste philosophy, the waste resulting from the cutting of the garment become an opportunity and finds new life in a collection of masks.
The project was born among the university desks of the Politecnico di Milano with the aim of telling new stories and atmospheres with an innovative and emotional flavour, introducing Italian research, design and creativity.
Benefits
The textile industry and the stone industry are two of the most renowned and recognized Italian realities representing Made in Italy in the world. MARM MORE allows Fili Pari to create a new synergy between the textile and stone sector, through the creation of a new production chain which allows dialogue between two sectors that have never communicated with each other before
Fili Pari is an innovative Start-Up focused on research and development of unconventional materials for the textile industry, respecting the territory and the environment. The Start-Up is a specialist in the development of cutting-edge technologies for the enhancement of marble powders. Fili Pari aims to contribute to protecting the land and valleys from mountains dismemberment and encourage the use of by-products as a raw material.
The project was born among the university desks of the Politecnico di Milano with the aim of telling new stories and atmospheres with an innovative and emotional flavour, introducing Italian research, design and creativity.
Fili Pari embraces the circular economy values, combining research and innovation to improve the well-being of the Earth and its people by updating the product life cycle. The love for Italian territory and culture pushed them to invent a way to transform waste into opportunities in full respect of the circular economy, focusing the work on raw material use and Italian stone industrial tradition. The love for the territory translates into the desire to enhance the raw materials, using products and by-products of the Italian stone industries, transforming waste into opportunities in full respect of the circular economy.
MARM MORE products are entirely made in Italy in every phase of the process: from the selection of the marbles to their processing, up to the production of the material, the goal of the production process is to show how the raw material can be transformed in a top product of fashion world.
In the form of powder, marble is also used in the fields of chemical, cosmetic, pharmaceutical and food, thanks to the calcium carbonate contained in the stone. In the textile sector, it has never been used, if not as aesthetic inspiration, through prints that reproduce the veins of the stone. Now Marble is wearable thanks to MARM MORE.
Practice
Their mission is to give lightness and dynamism to marble: an apparently rigid and static material that now has a new interpretation.
Fili Pari promotes the responsible use of our planet’s resources, minimising material consumption to ensure the least possible waste. Thanks to the zero-waste philosophy, the waste resulting from the cutting of the garment become an opportunity and finds new life in a collection of masks.
Every day the fashion industry produces a number of garments that far exceeds the needs of the population, and it’s time to close the loop. They firmly believe in the philosophy of reuse and recycling, which is why they recover and collect second-hand Fili Pari garments to be able to transform them into new products, slowing down the negative impact that the textile sector has on our environment.
Since ancient times marble has been used in art, architecture, and represents a cultural, economic, and geological heritage, symbol of uniqueness and timeless excellence. In the form of powder is used also in the fields of chemical, cosmetic, pharmaceutical and food, thanks to the calcium carbonate-containing in the stone. In the textile sector, it was never been used, if not as aesthetic inspiration, through prints that reproduce the veins of the stone.
The textile industry and the stone industry are two of the most renowned and recognized Italian realities representing Made in Italy in the world. MARM MORE allows Fili Pari to create a new synergy between the textile and stone sector, through the creation of a new production chain which allows dialogue between two sectors that have never communicated with each other before
Source: https://filipari.com/en/content/8-about-us
Orange Fiber. Production of a patented material from citrus juice by-products
Industry: Innovative Startup in the textile and material science industry
Company size: The company, founded in February 2014, is composed of 8 members
Years of operation: 7
The first implementation of circular practice/project: First fashion collection in 2017 in collaboration with the Florentine fashion house Salvatore Ferragamo.
CE Business Model(s) this best practice displays best: Resource Recovery(Choose from Circular Supply; Resource Recovery; Product Life Extension; Sharing Platform; Product as a Service)
Description of the best practice (challenge, practice, benefits)
Challenges
Thanks to the process of industrial production that they developed and patented in Italy, then extended internationally, they can produce a high-quality fabric capable of bringing together two pillars from the Italian heritage – textiles and food – and respond to the demands of both innovation and sustainability in the fashion industry.
Their exclusive fabric is produced from hundreds of thousands of tons of citrus juice by-products, the so-called “pastazzo,” that otherwise would be wasted.
Thanks to their innovative process, they have created a way to maximize the reapplication of citrus juice by-product, spinning the citrus cellulose into a high-quality and completely new material for the fashion industry.
Sustainability
A marked increase in food processing over the past 50 years has gradually generated an enormous amount of non-edible by-products and the potential for the senseless discarding and waste of our natural resources. However, they developed a tremendous opportunity for the application of industrial ecology, allowing them to reduce waste as well as pollution by transforming citrus juice by-products into a new and sustainable product.
Their efforts are inspired by beauty, quality and the opportunity to provide an innovative and sustainable textile to Italian production practices and the entire fashion industry. Straight from Mother Nature, they offer a fabric that’s as fabulous to wear as it is to design with.
Environment
In Italy every year, more than 700.000 tons of citrus waste are produced and, until now, no one has developed a viable alternative to disposal.
This waste even prompted the closing of some citrus juice companies, due to illegal disposal or correct yet prohibitively expensive disposal practices. On the other hand, they face an ever-increasing number of consumers demanding sustainable materials and fashion brands seeking green innovation.
It is for these reasons that they have worked to unite oranges, which are typical of Sicily, and world-renown Italian excellence in textiles, developing a disruptive technology that creates an innovative material out of industrial by-products. Existing textiles are unable to satisfy the increasing demand in quantity and quality, even before issues of sustainability are considered.
That’s why they are passionate about reusing citrus juice by-products that do not rival food consumption but are able to provide sustainable resources.
Since its establishment, the company has raised financial resources of over 1 million euros thanks to a mix of investments from angel investors, public funds and grants.
Thanks to the investments raised through the equity crowdfunding campaign launched in 2019 on the CrowdFundMe platform, the company has launched an investment plan with the aim of significantly increasing its production capacity and meeting the numerous demands of fashion brands.
Benefits
Orange Fiber it’s the world’s first and only brand to produce a patented material from citrus juice by-products, repurposing them to create beautiful, sensorial materials that reshape your sartorial experience.
Their fabrics are formed from silk-like cellulose yarn that can blend with other materials. When used in its purest form, the resulting 100% citrus textile features a soft and silky hand-feel, lightweight, and can be opaque or shiny according to production needs.
Thanks to the process of industrial production that they developed and patented in Italy, then extended internationally, they can produce a high-quality fabric capable of bringing together two pillars from the Italian heritage – textiles and food – and respond to the demands of both innovation and sustainability in the fashion industry.
Their exclusive fabric is produced from hundreds of thousands of tons of citrus juice byproducts, the so-called “pastazzo,” that otherwise would be wasted.
Thanks to their innovative process, they have created a way to maximize the reapplication of citrus juice by-product, spinning the citrus cellulose into a high-quality and completely new material for the fashion industry.
Since its establishment, the company has raised financial resources of over 1 million euros thanks to a mix of investments from angel investors, public funds and grants.
They launched a crowdfunding campaign in 2019 on the CrowdFundMe platform, this action permitted them to increase their production power and to cross their experience with new fashion brands.
In October 2020 the company completed the creation of a new plant in Sicily and produced the first ton of a new sustainable fibre contributing to craft the future of the Fashion Industry in a greener way.
The new Standard
(LUXURY 3.0)
They believe that luxury has risen to new standards. Modernity no longer resides in the digitalization of exclusivity alone; modernity must look further than status and consider the future—the future of taste, the future of wearable design, but most importantly, the future of our world.
They are committed to bringing sustainable design values to the fashion industry, helping those who wear our products to become not just consumers, but contributors to the Luxury 3.0 movement.
Sources:
https://materialdistrict.com/article/fabric-orange-peel-orange-fiber/, https://www.researchgate.net/publication/340927840_Textiles_from_orange_peel_waste, https://welum.com/article/dress-yourself-with-oranges/)
GREECE
Syros
Company name: The island of Syros in cooperation with the Hellenic Recovery Recycling
Corporation (HERRCO) and the offer of individuals (Greece)
Industry: The island of Syros in cooperation with the Hellenic Recovery Recycling
Corporation (HERRCO) and the offer of individuals
Company size: Syros: 21.507 citizens
Years of operation: HERRCO: 20 years.
Name/Title of the best practice: Compensatory Recycling of solid and alternative wastes
The first implementation of circular practice/project: 2
CE Business Model(s) this best practice displays best: Circular Supply
(Choose from Circular Supply; Resource Recovery; Product Life Extension; Sharing
Platform; Product as a Service 1)
Description of the best practice (challenge, practice, benefits)
Challenge
Syros, with the help and management of its own resources, as well as the European Union, has implemented a viable system of Circular Economy, which many municipalities can draw inspiration from because besides being effective, it also reduces the cost and quantity of waste and acts as a means of alleviating for the environmental crisis that Greece is going through. It is therefore obvious that Syros is a typical model to be imitated not only for the management of waste on Greek islands but also throughout Greece, as environmental culture and mentality is a natural characteristic of the citizens.
Practice
A typical example of actions of Circular Economy is the organization of the capital of the Cyclades, the island Syros. Syros is known for the recycling of solid and alternative wastes, such as glass, plastic, metal, edible oils, lamps, etc., in cooperation with the Hellenic Recovery Recycling Corporation (HERRCO) and the offer of individuals. Thus, Syros is leading the way in package recycling and re-use action with the help of churches and voluntary organizations on the island. Similarly, for example, the re-using second-hand books in schools are highlight encouraged. Great interest concerns the action of recycling edible oil (frying oil) on the island, as its collection can present imaginative prospects for its re-use nationwide. Noteworthy is the management of seawater from the island through biological purification and desalination. Since the beginning of the 2000s, state-of-the-art Biological Cleaning has been started with high-quality construction and functional specifications, costing € 2.7 million. Biological Cleaning includes complete treatment of liquid and biological sludge, with significant innovations and that the most modern is present in the European space at Biological Stations today. The entire unit is controlled by an advanced computer with a minimum of staff. All debris is deodorized so that the Unit does not create almost any nuisance in the area. These practices are essential to the health and well-being of the island’s citizens, as bad odours and pollution of the atmosphere and water were created by urban and industrial wastewater.
Benefits
- These practices can be necessary for the insurance of the health and well-being of the citizens, as bad odours and pollution of the atmosphere and water were created by urban and industrial wastewater.
- This offers the opportunity to overcome the recent crisis, the high youth unemployment rate and to promote alternatives solutions.
- It can help in order to allow Greece to get rid of the EU‟s environmental fines for the numerous illegal open landfills.
Resources:
Terna Energy
Industry: TERNA ENERGY
Company size: The company’s RES project portfolio in Greece and abroad exceeds 1.5 GW
Years of operation: 21
Name/Title of the best practice: The example of Epirus Waste Treatment Plant that produces energy from municipal waste
The first implementation of circular practice/project: It was put into operation in March 2019, while it was awarded as the project of the year in 2018
CE Business Model(s) this best practice displays best: Circular Supply and Resource Recovery (Choose from Circular Supply; Resource Recovery; Product Life Extension; Sharing Platform; Product as a Service)
Description of the best practice (challenge, practice, benefits)
With a very low recycling rate, Greece insists on landfilling an overwhelming percentage (over 80%) of its total waste, while unlicensed landfills are also used to a large extent. In contrast, only 22.6% of waste gets landfilled in the EU. The problem does not just lie with public health and the severe impact on the environment but with the economy, as well. The European Court of Justice has fined our country millions of euros for illegally operating landfills, despite having drawn on European funds to close them down and replace them with other waste management methods.
The European Union is now calling on Greece to fundamentally change the way it handles the issue, in line with the ambitious European environmental and energy policies. A change that ranges from the product design to improving recycling systems and waste management facilities’ performance. Therefore, in addition to the long-term goal of reducing the amount of municipal waste, emphasis must be placed on the incorporation of policies for their rational management. The Epirus Waste Treatment Plant is the first in Greece to produce energy exclusively from Municipal Solid Waste. This means that the waste treatment process will generate energy which will be channelled into the country’s electricity grid. Therefore, the Epirus Waste Treatment Plant not only contributes to improving the environment and reducing waste but also to the production of green energy rendering Epirus a “Green Region”.
At the same time, the facility deploys cutting-edge technology in mechanical waste sorting, as well as a state-of-the-art information system both for the facility’s internal monitoring and control, as well as for all its commercial functions (recyclable’s weighing and billing, classification and sale), while keeping the Contracting Authority (namely the Epirus Region) up to date.
The plant’s maximum annual capacity is 105,000 tonnes. Its operation recovers a total of 17,000 tonnes of recyclable materials per year while producing 10,800 MWh/year of Green Energy, capable of meeting the needs of 3,000 families. At the same time, 12,000 tonnes of CO2 are saved per year.
- The lowest entry charge among all PPP waste projects in the country (and one of the lowest in Europe) for all residents.
- Reducing the Epirus Region’s environmental footprint for waste management.
- Substantial contribution towards achieving national recycling targets by creating an integrated waste management system and introducing sorting-at-source systems.
- Maximising recycling and composting.
- Promoting green energy production.
- Encouraging residents’ environmental awareness by fostering a new ecological culture in waste management.
Resources:
https://www.terna-energy.com/.