Article by Olivia Rabbi
The circular economy and correct disposal of end-of-life WEEE, for both domestic and professional appliances, start upstream. They start from the design and careful study of the possibility of properly separating materials and components. Making it as easy as possible to recycle and reuse them to make new high-performance products. This is one of the most demanding challenges for the Appliance sector. It is effective for the manufacturers and for those who will manage disassembly and recovery of secondary raw materials.
Samsung’s Circular Economy Lab
On the subject of WEEE and circular economy, Samsung Electronics created the Circular Economy Lab. The goal is «to conduct comprehensive research on material recycling technologies and processes for extracting resources from waste. This with the aim of applying these technologies to maximise resource circularity», explains Matteo Trambaiolo, Head of Marketing & Business Planning Home Appliances, Samsung Electronics Italia.
«By 2030 – Trambaiolo adds – 50 per cent of plastics used in products will incorporate recycled resin. We have already started to do this for our washing machines and refrigerators. To address sustainability in the disposal of used devices, the company plans to expand the reach of its e-waste collection system to around 180 countries by 2030. In this way, Samsung plans to collect 10 million tonnes of e-waste between 2009 and 2030. And 25 million tonnes by 2050».
Easier disassembly and disposal
Lainox has always been attentive to the environmental impact of its equipment from the production stage, then to handling during use, to disposal at end of life of WEEE. «Concerning the management of equipment at the end of its life – the company explains – within these topics there are specific indications to be considered. Such as arranging the assembly of components and preferring coupling solutions that allow both assembly in the company and disassembly and subsequent reassembly during maintenance/repair. It is useful to prefer assembly solutions that use screws, rivets, seams instead of welds. Besides, components made of materials that at the end of their useful life must be recycled or otherwise disposed of, must be easily disassembled as steel, aluminum, plastic or rubber separation».
Furthermore, «in the construction of particularly complex, but at the same time not excessively stressed mechanical components, preference should be given to recyclable plastic materials and the use of non-recyclable and/or non-biodegradable materials should be limited». During the design phase of the Boosted range and later of its evolution 5.0, the reference of these indications led to solutions that brought advantages in terms of disassembly and proper disposal of the equipment at the end of its life.
«Compared to previous ranges – Lainox says – solutions have been introduced to reduce welding in favour of riveting and/or the use of screws, the latter in turn reduced in favour of joints. All aimed at faster and more efficient assembly/disassembly, both in the construction phase and in the maintenance phase, and then in the disposal phase. All of this, of course, while complying with the safety aspects dictated by the relevant standards and directives».
