Insights
The R-strategies provide practical guidance to help businesses improve their circularity through small, concrete actions, while preserving their competitiveness and finances.
Looking for a practical framework to improve your company’s circularityCircularity describes the quantity of materials managed in a closed loop. step by step? The R-strategies are here to help.
From avoiding waste to reducing the purchase of new raw materials, these actions curb your environmental impact.
Important: the strategies are ranked from the most sustainable (R0) to the least sustainable (R9).
R0: Refuse
The best way to reduce the environmental impact of a product is simply not to buy it. Whenever possible, choose a more sustainable alternative.
Example: instead of purchasing a new van, opt for a bicycle delivery service.
R1: Rethink
Rather than using a product only a handful of times, consider sharing it or making better use of it.
Example: join a car-sharing system with other companies.
R2: Reduce
By reducing your consumption (raw materials, energy, water, etc.), the product you use or produce has a lower impact on people and the environment.
Example: choose a car manufacturer that uses recycled materials, fewer chemicals and energy-efficient production techniques. Or opt for an electric rather than a combustion-engine vehicle.
R3: ReuseReuse designates all operations by which substances, materials or products that are not waste are used again in an identical way to their originally intended purpose.
Instead of buying a new product reuse an existing alternative
Example: choose a second-hand van instead of a new one.
R4: RepairRepair is making a faulty product work again, allowing its use to be extended without the user parting with it, or with a view to reuse (donation, second-hand sale).
Rather than immediately replacing a faulty product, first consider repair options.
Example: have your current van repaired.
R5 Refurbish
Modernise an existing product by thoroughly cleaning it, repainting it and carrying out minor repairs. This can significantly extend its lifespan.
Example: give your old van a new look by adding your new logo.
R6: Remanufacture
Recondition your product by dismantling it (or having it dismantled), resolving any issues and reassembling it so it can function as originally without using many new raw materials.
Example: a mechanic dismantles your van, identifies the problem, carries out the necessary repairs and reassembles it so it is ready to be used again.
R7: Repurpose
Give the components of a faulty product a new life.
Example: the engine of your damaged van can be refurbished and used again on the second-hand market.
R8: Recycle
Process the materials of a product so they can be used again.
Example: the steel and aluminium from your old van are dismantled, melted and recycled into raw materials for new vehicles.
R9: Recover
If the product contains no recyclable components, recycle the energy released during its incineration. This energy can then be used for producing new products. However, combustion itself often has an impact on CO2 emissions and air pollution, although this can be partially controlled in a specialised facility.
Example: plastics contained in an old car are incinerated in a dedicated plant, producing reusable energy.
Conclusion
Waste generation is, of course, unavoidable. However, by applying the R-strategies you can significantly reduce the total amount of waste. Recycled raw materials can remain in circulation for a long time before ultimately becoming waste.
Need more practical examples? Professor Waldo Galle of the VUB explains how to apply R-strategies in the construction sector, for example in the recyclingAny recovery operation through which waste, including organic waste, is reprocessed to become substances, materials or products that can be used for their initial function or other functions. of window profiles.
Want to find out how your SMESmall and medium-sized enterprises currently performs in terms of circularityCircularity describes the quantity of materials managed in a closed loop.? Take the test!
