Electronic devices and domestic appliances generally contain two types of material: plastics and metals. Most plastics are extremely durable and persist well beyond the economic lifetimes of products, yet cables, cars and consumer electronics and the large volumes of plastics they contain are dumped or incinerated as waste, even though they could be recycled. The metals – including iron, copper and aluminium – may be present in the form of alloys, immobilized in structures, dissolved in liquids or in powder form, making it difficult and expensive to recover them in the quantities and levels of quality needed for their eventual reuse.

This chapter presents examples of companies that are attempting to improve their resource efficiency by recycling metals and plastics. In its ongoing efforts to improve production processes, Tata Steel has succeeded in producing more steel from the same amounts of iron ore and coal each and every year. Even the floors of the plant are swept to collect iron and coal dust, which is fed into the sintering furnace. As part of its EcoVision programme, Philips has set itself ambitious goals, including doubling the amount of recycled materials in its products and the global collection and recycling of its products by 2015. Its showcase product is the Senseo Viva Café Eco, a coffee machine made largely of recycled plastics. Only the components that come into contact with coffee and water are still made of virgin materials, in line with European regulations.

For waste processing companies such as SITA Northern Europe Waste Services there is as yet no positive business model for recycling many waste streams. Except for wood, metal and paper, recycling actually costs money. Nevertheless, SITA is determined to work in partnership with its customers to close several material loops in order to gain value from waste. The final example, again from Philips, shows the potential of new business models for achieving its ambitious targets in terms of energy savings and resource efficiency. For two breakthrough innovations – Pay per Lux and Luz Verde – the key is to provide added value for customers and other stakeholders by offering a service instead of merely products.