FOCUS ON SUSTAINABILITY
produces methane , a significant part of biogas , a renewable energy source that can be used for cooking , heating and generating electricity . But which innovations are being used today for metal , specifically ?
Today ’ s best practices include using the most advanced technology for dense media separation , such as sensor-based sorting , and a handheld device capable of using X-ray fluorescence ( XRF ) to identify the type of metal or alloy . This helps to ensure appropriate sorting when preparing metals for smelting . At the most basic level , it increases the volume of metal identified to be recycled .
Strategies must be implemented , often including end-to-end metal collection and recycling software , so that companies have an ‘ at-a-glance ’ dashboard of where they stand . Waste Mission can suggest best practices from collecting , categorising and sorting scrap metal to melting , purifying and hauling it away .
Ideally , however , the strategy will go well beyond the proper usage of resources or adequate labelling for resale and move towards partnerships with other entities that can use by-products and create net-zero waste altogether . A key finding of a 2023 Report by Qflow is that achieving 100 % waste compliance is possible , but some assistance is required . Ultimately , the waste producer is responsible .
Companies from all sectors are using circular methods to turn waste into savings
aiming to keep products and materials in use at their highest value for as long as possible . Rather than products reaching their end-oflife , the practices promote restoration and circularity . The result is less waste and a closed loop in the industrial ecosystem .
Transitioning to the circular business model can alleviate the environmental pressures caused by pollution , congestion and greenhouse gas emissions . It also allows companies to tap into new markets by offering green products and services , contributing to long-term economic sustainability . Take BMW , for example . Electrification ,
BMW Vision Neue Klasse ( image : BMW Group ).
Image : Shutterstock . com . digitalisation and circularity are the core elements of the transformation that is being actively shaped by the BMW Group and began with the electrified models of the BMW i brand . The BMW i Vision Circular highlights the tremendous potential that can be leveraged by systematically implementing a circular economy that reduces consumption of raw materials and lowers CO₂ emissions .
The BMW Vision Neue Klasse is a vehicle that represents the whole range of technological innovations through which the BMW Group is demonstrating its future sustainability . The BMW Vision Neue Klasse signals the start of a new era of individual mobility that is rich in digital experiences , locally emission-free and circular in the long term .
“ Manufactured at the new plant in Debrecen entirely without fossil fuels and with much wider use of raw and secondary materials produced with reduced CO₂ , the Neue Klasse will also provide significant impetus for resource-efficient individual mobility . High energy efficiency during the vehicle use phase will be ensured by optimising weight , air and rolling resistance , as well as through intelligent heat management , especially for the electric drive train , using sixth-generation BMW eDrive technology ,” commented BMW . Companies from all sectors are using circular methods to turn waste into savings . Other success stories include zero-waste projects and collaborations with recycling facilities focusing on re-using building materials and crushing concrete for re-use .
Technology plays a critical role in the circular economy , of course . Digital tools such as artificial intelligence , the Internet of Things and 3D printing support the transition to circular business models . They help to automate processes , optimise resource use and minimise waste .
Circular economy principles
The holy grail , net-zero waste , is the output of incorporating a circular economy . In many cases , the sheet metal industry is already wellversed when it comes to the circular economy principles of removing waste and pollution , conserving raw materials and rebuilding / restoring ecosystems .
The circular approach counters the wasteful practices of the traditional linear economy by
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