Design for Sustainability

Design has many aspects to it. Ease of recycling is just one. “There are enormous differences between recycling materials. How easy the material is to recycle, whether you can collect and sort it and then bring it back into circulation,” says Weis. This is why Freudenberg’s Vileda brand often uses thermoplastic polypropylene. And it’s also why since the 1990s the brand has avoided using questionable materials such as PVC. Often containing harmful plasticizers, PVC releases toxic fumes when incinerated. So, instead of PVC, for more than a decade broom bristles have also been made from a more suitable plastic – namely PET: “We tap into our network at Freudenberg and benefit from the Group’s knowhow in spunbond materials.” Microfiber cloths made of 100% recycled PET that have the same performance standards were also recently launched on the market.

“Just as important, however, is that the consumer understands how to dispose of a product,” says Weis. If the best recycled material ends up in the wrong trash, it’s of no use. In an international comparison, countries such as Norway, Sweden and Italy are better positioned than others and offer different waste trash for different plastics. “We put the issue on the agenda as part of our Fit for Circular initiative,” says Weis. In some countries, the information on the packaging has already been adapted to help the customer understand the legal requirements. But all the more crucial is that, wherever possible, products do not consist of composite materials. Put simply, it’s important to avoid combining different materials in such a way as to later on render them inseparable at the plant.

Freudenberg, for instance, has changed the material composition of the “Mocio” mop’s foil packaging. “The previous packaging was difficult to recycle,” says Weis: “In total, we accumulated 39 tons of material in a year.” The material now used, made of LDPE 30 micron foil, reduces both mass and weight to 22 tons – and, being a mono-material, is easier to recycle. A very impressive example of the enormous positive impact materials can have. As part of its commitment with the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, Freudenberg has also made a public announcement of its intention to make greater use of mono-materials.

Weis’ team recently conducted a detailed analysis of its own portfolio to identify other products that could be designed to be even more sustainable. After all, the issue is also one of technological development. “There’s a lot of research being conducted worldwide in this field. For example, when it comes to sorting by type,” says Weis. He’s keeping a close eye on the “Holy Grail 2.0” research project, in which more than 130 companies and organizations are working together to use modern digital watermarks that enable homogeneous sorting.

Since recycled materials are only useful if they are actually contamination-free, homogeneous materials are also key. “Polyethylene, for example, mustn’t contain any PVC waste, which is exactly what we don't want in it for a good reason.” The more skilled at identifying and sorting raw materials the recycling plants become, the more worthwhile it is to zero in on certain materials. Manufacturers like Freudenberg Home and Cleaning Solutions can help by focusing on sustainable design from the outset.  And this, in turn, means that such manufacturers are also better able to obtain those homogeneous recyclates along the way. A cycle - in the truest sense of the word.