EnvIM Functional Economy Project
In line with the new EU green deal framework for circular economy, is a new tendency for companies for alternative business models, to shift from the offer of products to the offer of services, adjusting to “product as a service” model for their clients.
This transfers value out of the object, but still fulfilling the client’s needs, in the objective of reducing their consumption of #esources, reduce and reuse wastes, and improving the quality and lifespan of products at the same time.
In January, three visits were organized for the EnvIM students to discover these innovations and operating activities in various sectors :
– France Plastique Recyclage PAPREC GROUP
– Recyc Matelas Europe
– Refactory – Renault
France Plastique Recyclage gives plastic bottles a second life, over a billion plastic bottles are recycled every year. In this ultra-modern facility on the banks of the Seine, 45,000 tonnes of used plastic bottles begin a #newlife every year. Whether they contained mineral water or soft drinks, all emerge from selective sorting.
Once collected, blue PET bottles are sorted again to remove labels, caps and avoid classification errors. Next the material is shredded and cleaned, being ready for extrusion melted and passed through screens to eliminate any impurities.
The obtained granulates are then purified for seven hours in a vacuum at 200°C. This mandatory stage is standardised to ensure the material is suitable for food use, and sell back to manufacturers to produce new bottles.
RECYC MATELAS EUROPE is the French leader in mattress recycling. By sorting and dismantling old used mattresses, to produce final material recovery, they transform bulky waste into a valuable resource. By optimising the recycling rate, almost 30,000 tonnes of mattresses are recycled every year.
Since 2013, having at hearth a mission for integration, the group is committed to combating exclusion by giving priority to hiring people who are far from employment. This ambition is embodied in a personalised support programme, covering both professional subjects and skills useful for integration.
Refactory Renault
The Refactory Renault is Europe’s first circular economy factory dedicated to mobility, encouraging initiatives, developing innovations to better repair, re-trofit to less carbon-intensive energies vehicles, re-energy and improved the life cycle of batteries of electric vehicles.
