News & Insights

Reusing components is possible

Electronics

Step #3

You can find plenty of still usable components in much of the electronic waste we dispose of. Sometimes, these components have even more than 80% of their service life left, even if the product itself no longer functions. It is here reusing is the smarter and more climate friendly choice.

In the film, you get to know more about how reuse contributes to more circular products. Collaboration with Electrolux, we even looked at how components from discarded vacuum cleaners can live on. Among other things, the project showed that the vacuum cleaner engine still had 80% of its capacity, when the original product was discarded. So, we could use them in our prototype, which now consists of 100% recycled components and recycled materials.

Nowadays, the electronic waste is quite modern. This is partly due to the fact that we more frequently update the electronics we use. This means that your obsolete electronics products may contain still well-performing components. Components that can have a prolonged life in new circular products. In Stena Recycling's reuse business, the useful parts are sorted, packaged, and used in the manufacture of new electronic products. This applies, for example, to memory cards, RAMs, and hard disks. Sometimes entire products can be wiped out of their data and then reused. It’s also good to know that the data content never can be recreated, as it’s thoroughly destroyed with very advanced processes.

Significant values left

We create large circular values when components get an extended product life, instead of being ground and recycled. For example, reuse means an important step up the waste hierarchy, to a better and more resource-smart alternative. Reuse also means that we postpone the actual recycling of the material in your electronics. This way, we better manage the planet’s resources.

Follow the collaboration in 6 steps

Stena Circular Consulting has in partnership with Electrolux, produced a vacuum cleaner prototype. A completely recyclable prototype, that’s been put together from 100 percent reused components and recycled materials.

Let's collaborate to succeed!

Step #1 – Starting your circular business isn’t that hard. Yes, there are some challenges. And yes, you need to have a clear business target. But if you find others to collaborate with, you’ve already gotten to a good start.

Let's collaborate to succeed!

Experts setting the scope

Step #2 – Always make sure that your circular collaboration is tangible, with easy to reach-targets. In the startup part of the process, it’s more important to make sure you will find mutual benefits, than to solve all problems at once.

Experts setting the scope

Reusing components is possible

Step #3 – There are plenty of ready-to-use components in much of the electronic waste we dispose of. These components sometimes have more than 80 percent of their service life left, even if the product they were in reached its end-of-life.

Reusing components is possible

Premium circular raw material

Step #4 – Making sure that the recycled materials are high-grade enough for new use is essential. This way, they can easily replace the virgin materials, thus supporting a circular economy. And save resources for the companies involved.

Premium circular raw material

Components of 100% recycled material

Step #5 – High-quality recycled material gives high-quality new components. And helps to maintain a fully functioning manufacturing process. This ensures that the producing companies can put their brand on the products produced.

Components of 100% recycled material

Prototyping your insights

Step #6 – Developing a prototype of a circular product provides a wealth of insights. This is one of the conclusions from the Electrolux’ and Stena Recycling’s development of a 100 % recycled and recyclable vacuum cleaner. Insights that you can take to the next level.

Prototyping your insights