roeren GmbH has been advising customers from the manufacturing sector on how to increase added value since 2011. While supervising projects in 47 countries, it quickly became clear that recycling and the use of secondary materials in production processes are crucial on the path to greater sustainability in operations. This gave rise to the roeren-recycling matrix (‘rorix’).
Clustering waste with ‘rorix’
It was developed to organise access to secondary materials efficiently, effectively and sustainably and thus close the gap between availability and demand. Its application is intended to help increase the proportion of secondary raw materials, reduce CO2 emissions and optimise disposal processes. It can also reduce dependence on primary raw material suppliers, which strengthens security of supply. Another aspect is the potential income from the sale of secondary raw materials.
Using the matrix, scrap metal and waste can be categorised into four clusters, which differ in terms of the quantities available in the company and the ownership. For example, while companies can profit in the present from materials that they categorise as ‘Green Luminaries’, materials with very small quantities and a lack of accessibility belong to the ‘Recycling Flops’. The aim of ‘rorix’ is to work out the differences and learn to deal intensively with the former and not waste unnecessary time on the latter.
Promoting the circular economy
In addition, potential sources of secondary materials, such as recycled raw materials or waste products from other production processes, are to be identified. The roeren-recycling matrix also takes into account the quality and availability of the materials as well as the costs and environmental impact of their procurement. This facilitates the integration of secondary materials into production processes and helps to promote the circular economy.
According to roeren, companies that utilise the matrix can achieve both ecological and economic benefits and thus successfully move towards a more sustainable future.
