In the current era, environmental sustainability and the adoption of eco-friendly practices have become key priorities for many companies in Europe and around the world. In this context, the green economy represents a development model that promotes sustainable economic growth and social welfare while minimizing the impact on the environment.
One of the most important challenges for companies is the effective recycling of industrial waste in order to reduce pollution and make the most of available resources.
This article analyses what the green economy is, its importance, the six pillars on which it is based and the benefits it offers. It also emphasizes the importance of plastic recycling and industrial waste management.
The term green economy refers to an economic model that promotes the adoption of best practices based on the principles of energy efficiency, responsible use of resources and the promotion of renewable sources.
This approach favours the reduction of CO2 emissions, the preservation of biodiversity and the protection of the ecosystem. It also promotes the development of new technologies and innovative solutions to address current environmental challenges.
These results stem from a focus on the balance between economic growth and environmental sustainability, with an eye on the resources used and their efficient utilisation.
The benefits of the green economy are manifold, which is why it has become an almost compulsory choice:
- the adoption of sustainable practices contributes significantly to reducing the impact of climate change;
- the adoption of this approach significantly reduces pollution, hence, greenhouse gas emissions into the environment and the impact on public health;
- thanks to green best practices, a significant contribution is made to the conservation of natural resources because their unnecessary use is reduced;
- it is congenital to this economic system to promote the development of innovative technologies and new 'green' jobs;
- the philosophy behind the green economy contributes to social equity and the general well-being of the community.
The green economy rests on six fundamental pillars:
Sustainable energy: Promoting the use of renewable energy sources and improving energy efficiency;
Sustainable transport: Encourage environmentally friendly transport options and reduce carbon emissions from the transport sector;
Sustainable agriculture: Promote organic farming, reduce chemical inputs and support local and sustainable food production
Sustainable water management: Ensure efficient water use, reduce water pollution and preserve water resources;
Sustainable waste management: Encourage waste reduction, recycling and promote the principles of the circular economy;
Protection and restoration of ecosystems: Preserve biodiversity, conserve natural habitats and restore ecosystems to their original state.
In the European context, the term 'green economy' is being joined by the term 'green growth'. Although both concepts aim to promote sustainable development, there are differences between them.
The adoption of an economic model based on the green economy focuses on the integration of environmental, social and economic dimensions, emphasising the need for a radical change in society, thus affecting all aspects of life, working and otherwise.
The term Green Growth refers to economic growth as a natural consequence of adopting practices that protect the environment. Green Growth, on the other hand, focuses primarily on achieving economic growth through environmentally friendly measures, neglecting relevant aspects of society as a whole.
Within the green economy, the recycling of industrial waste plays a key role. Waste from production processes can be a valuable source of secondary materials that would otherwise be landfilled or incinerated, generating pollution and wasted resources.
Through recycling, these materials can be recovered and reintroduced into the production cycle, thus reducing the overall environmental impact and contributing to the transition to a circular economy.
There are several strategies to implement an effective recycling system for industrial waste. First of all, it is crucial to raise awareness and involve employees and stakeholders on the importance of recycling and proper waste management.
In addition, partnerships can be established with other companies or organisations specialising in waste management to ensure proper disposal and recycling of waste materials. The adoption of advanced technologies, such as automatic material separation and regeneration processes, can further improve recycling efficiency.
- reduces the demand for virgin plastic production from fossil fuels and other non-renewable energy sources;
- prevents the concentration of plastic waste in landfills, thus reducing environmental pollution and the impact on wildlife;
- allows waste material to be reused in new products, following appropriate processing and recycling;
- contributes to the circular economy by reissuing recycled and recyclable plastics to the market, reducing the demand for virgin plastics.
There are two main methods of recycling plastics from production processes. Chemical and mechanical.
Chemical recycling is a process in which plastics are chemically transformed into commodities, which can be used to create new plastics or other chemical products. This recycling method is based on chemical reactions that break the polymer chains of plastics into smaller components, called monomers or base oils. These monomers or oils can be used to synthesise new polymers or chemicals.
An example of chemical recycling is thermal depolymerisation. In this process, plastics are subjected to high temperatures in a controlled environment, breaking polymer chains and producing monomers that can be used to create new materials. This recycling method can process different types of plastics, including polystyrene, polyethylene, polypropylene and others.
Mechanical recycling, also known as physical recycling, is a process in which plastic is ground, cleaned and turned into granules or pellets. These granules can be used as raw material for the production of new plastic objects, such as bottles, containers, pipes and other products.
The mechanical recycling process involves several steps. Initially, the plastic is sorted and separated according to type and colour. Next, it is ground into smaller fragments, washed to remove any contaminants and then dried. Finally, the plastic is melted and processed into granules that can be used for the production of new products.
Mechanical recycling is widely used to recycle plastic bottles, containers, packaging and other rigid plastic objects.
Both recycling methods, chemical and mechanical, offer significant advantages in terms of waste reduction, resource conservation and reduced environmental impact.
Gianeco has been involved in the mechanical recycling of bioplastics and thermoplastic elastomers for years, transforming them into reusable polymers in various sectors and productions.
How can you embrace the principles of the green economy within your company? One of the first steps is to adopt a post-production waste recycling plan.
By forging relationships with companies that are committed to recycling production waste and giving it a new life, you can make a significant contribution to the circular economy by reducing your environmental impact.
Companies such as Gianeco take bioplastic and thermoplastic elastomer waste and transform it into recycled material that can be immediately reused for new production. It is important to rely on certified companies that can provide clear information on the properties of the recycled material to ensure continuity in the production and supply process.
If you are a company that makes compounds or finished products and are looking for recycled bioplastics BIOGEO and thermoplastic elastomers ELASTOGEO such as PLA, PBAT, TPU, SBS, SEBS contact Gianeco.
In the current era, environmental sustainability and the adoption of eco-friendly practices have become key priorities for many companies in Europe and around the world. In this context, the green economy represents a development model that promotes sustainable economic growth and social welfare while minimizing the impact on the environment.
One of the most important challenges for companies is the effective recycling of industrial waste in order to reduce pollution and make the most of available resources.
This article analyses what the green economy is, its importance, the six pillars on which it is based and the benefits it offers. It also emphasizes the importance of plastic recycling and industrial waste management.
The term green economy refers to an economic model that promotes the adoption of best practices based on the principles of energy efficiency, responsible use of resources and the promotion of renewable sources.
This approach favours the reduction of CO2 emissions, the preservation of biodiversity and the protection of the ecosystem. It also promotes the development of new technologies and innovative solutions to address current environmental challenges.
These results stem from a focus on the balance between economic growth and environmental sustainability, with an eye on the resources used and their efficient utilisation.
The benefits of the green economy are manifold, which is why it has become an almost compulsory choice:
- the adoption of sustainable practices contributes significantly to reducing the impact of climate change;
- the adoption of this approach significantly reduces pollution, hence, greenhouse gas emissions into the environment and the impact on public health;
- thanks to green best practices, a significant contribution is made to the conservation of natural resources because their unnecessary use is reduced;
- it is congenital to this economic system to promote the development of innovative technologies and new 'green' jobs;
- the philosophy behind the green economy contributes to social equity and the general well-being of the community.
The green economy rests on six fundamental pillars:
Sustainable energy: Promoting the use of renewable energy sources and improving energy efficiency;
Sustainable transport: Encourage environmentally friendly transport options and reduce carbon emissions from the transport sector;
Sustainable agriculture: Promote organic farming, reduce chemical inputs and support local and sustainable food production
Sustainable water management: Ensure efficient water use, reduce water pollution and preserve water resources;
Sustainable waste management: Encourage waste reduction, recycling and promote the principles of the circular economy;
Protection and restoration of ecosystems: Preserve biodiversity, conserve natural habitats and restore ecosystems to their original state.
In the European context, the term 'green economy' is being joined by the term 'green growth'. Although both concepts aim to promote sustainable development, there are differences between them.
The adoption of an economic model based on the green economy focuses on the integration of environmental, social and economic dimensions, emphasising the need for a radical change in society, thus affecting all aspects of life, working and otherwise.
The term Green Growth refers to economic growth as a natural consequence of adopting practices that protect the environment. Green Growth, on the other hand, focuses primarily on achieving economic growth through environmentally friendly measures, neglecting relevant aspects of society as a whole.
Within the green economy, the recycling of industrial waste plays a key role. Waste from production processes can be a valuable source of secondary materials that would otherwise be landfilled or incinerated, generating pollution and wasted resources.
Through recycling, these materials can be recovered and reintroduced into the production cycle, thus reducing the overall environmental impact and contributing to the transition to a circular economy.
There are several strategies to implement an effective recycling system for industrial waste. First of all, it is crucial to raise awareness and involve employees and stakeholders on the importance of recycling and proper waste management.
In addition, partnerships can be established with other companies or organisations specialising in waste management to ensure proper disposal and recycling of waste materials. The adoption of advanced technologies, such as automatic material separation and regeneration processes, can further improve recycling efficiency.
- reduces the demand for virgin plastic production from fossil fuels and other non-renewable energy sources;
- prevents the concentration of plastic waste in landfills, thus reducing environmental pollution and the impact on wildlife;
- allows waste material to be reused in new products, following appropriate processing and recycling;
- contributes to the circular economy by reissuing recycled and recyclable plastics to the market, reducing the demand for virgin plastics.
There are two main methods of recycling plastics from production processes. Chemical and mechanical.
Chemical recycling is a process in which plastics are chemically transformed into commodities, which can be used to create new plastics or other chemical products. This recycling method is based on chemical reactions that break the polymer chains of plastics into smaller components, called monomers or base oils. These monomers or oils can be used to synthesise new polymers or chemicals.
An example of chemical recycling is thermal depolymerisation. In this process, plastics are subjected to high temperatures in a controlled environment, breaking polymer chains and producing monomers that can be used to create new materials. This recycling method can process different types of plastics, including polystyrene, polyethylene, polypropylene and others.
Mechanical recycling, also known as physical recycling, is a process in which plastic is ground, cleaned and turned into granules or pellets. These granules can be used as raw material for the production of new plastic objects, such as bottles, containers, pipes and other products.
The mechanical recycling process involves several steps. Initially, the plastic is sorted and separated according to type and colour. Next, it is ground into smaller fragments, washed to remove any contaminants and then dried. Finally, the plastic is melted and processed into granules that can be used for the production of new products.
Mechanical recycling is widely used to recycle plastic bottles, containers, packaging and other rigid plastic objects.
Both recycling methods, chemical and mechanical, offer significant advantages in terms of waste reduction, resource conservation and reduced environmental impact.
Gianeco has been involved in the mechanical recycling of bioplastics and thermoplastic elastomers for years, transforming them into reusable polymers in various sectors and productions.
How can you embrace the principles of the green economy within your company? One of the first steps is to adopt a post-production waste recycling plan.
By forging relationships with companies that are committed to recycling production waste and giving it a new life, you can make a significant contribution to the circular economy by reducing your environmental impact.
Companies such as Gianeco take bioplastic and thermoplastic elastomer waste and transform it into recycled material that can be immediately reused for new production. It is important to rely on certified companies that can provide clear information on the properties of the recycled material to ensure continuity in the production and supply process.
If you are a company that makes compounds or finished products and are looking for recycled bioplastics BIOGEO and thermoplastic elastomers ELASTOGEO such as PLA, PBAT, TPU, SBS, SEBS contact Gianeco.
