Circular economy

(circularity, CE) is the concept that products, materials and raw materials should remain in the economy for as long as possible, and that waste – if it does arise – should be treated as secondary raw materials that can be recycled, reprocessed and reused. The home appliance industry has been extending its commitment to sustainability for years, setting trends that other sectors are now following, including in CE.

Circular economy (circularity, CE) is a concept aimed at the rational use of resources and reducing negative environmental impacts at every stage of the life cycle of manufactured products, i.e. from design through use to recycling. Products, materials and raw materials should remain in the economy as long as possible, and waste generation should be minimized as much as possible.

The home appliance industry is a leader in the implementation of circular economy principles. Appliances supplied by our industry are subject to EU mandatory regulations from design (Ecodesign Directive) to recycling (Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive). For many years, about 90% of raw materials have been recovered from household appliances, and every year manufacturers finance a system that collects used equipment at 65% of the weight of the equipment they sell. In Poland, since the beginning of the establishment of the recycling system, manufacturers have already collected a total of almost 3 billion kg of waste equipment (2006-2023) and spent more than 1 billion PLN for this purpose.

In addition, EU regulations in household appliances also apply to subsequent life stages of the product. This is primarily usage, which in the case of large household appliances is responsible for more than 80% of the environmental impact generated. Created back in the 1990s, energy labels are the most effective tool that allows consumers to compare the performance of appliances in terms of their environmental impact. This is important because choosing the highest energy class often means tens of percent less energy consumption than the lowest classes. Other elements of the CE regulate the availability of spare parts and repair information on household appliances.

The European Green Deal in 2021 gave birth to an agreed strategy for a climate-neutral, resource-efficient and competitive economy. Expanding the scope of the circular economy from leaders to mainstream economic actors will make a decisive contribution to achieving climate neutrality by 2050 and decoupling economic growth from resource use while ensuring the EU’s long-term competitiveness and without leaving anyone behind.

To fulfill this ambition, the EU plans to accelerate the transition to a regenerative growth model that gives back to the planet more than it takes away, make progress toward keeping resource consumption within the planet’s limits, and therefore must strive to reduce its consumption footprint and double the rate of closed-loop material use in the next decade

In February 2021, MEPs voted on a resolution for a new EU roadmap for a closed economy, demanding, among other things, measures to achieve a CO2-neutral, environmentally sustainable, toxin-free and fully closed-loop economy by 2050.