Exit

Tag Archive: recycling

  1. Gage Products Company Leads the Adoption of the Circular Economy Concept

    Leave a Comment

    Over the last century, it has been found that the consumption of raw materials grew at a rate that was twice the increase in the global population.Gage's Circular Economy Image 1

    Ponder this for a moment and you will see that a bleak scenario emerges.

    The manufacturers of today do not have a system in place to recycle the ‘waste’ that is generated by buyers as they dispose of what doesn’t work and upgrade technology, like smart devices and kitchen appliances, at will.

    All in all, we are eating into the resources available to us much faster than we can replenish their reserves. Eventually, a time will come when this unsustainable mode of operation will collapse, pushing the economy into a slump that may take a lot longer than the past recessions to recover.

    The G7 Summit & The Concept of Circular Economy:

    The G7 is pre-emptive action. It deals with economic emergencies. The G7 countries of U.S., Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the U.K. have unanimously agreed that the problem of manufacturing waste is no longer confined to negatively impacting the environment. Yes, the landfills, overflowing with materials that can’t biodegrade and thus leach toxic elements into the ground, are a cause for concern. But more than this desecration of nature and the threat of pollution is the imminent concern around dwindling supplies. Reduce-Reuse-Recycle is no longer a high school mantra. It is the only approach that can help the global economy and marketplace stay functional.

    The living world has a cyclical operating system. The waste of one species becomes the nutrients of another, and ultimately every single organism is returned to the soil nourishing trees which go on to feed countless others. There is no danger of over exploiting what is available. This cyclic model, in fact, contributes to growth.

    The G7 countries are vocal supporters of the Circular Economy – an economy in which buyers become renters. It starts with manufacturers educating potential clients about the pitfalls of the use and dispose linear model of consumption. When a piece of equipment serves its purpose, it is sent back to the brand that created it. There might be incentives like credit points built around the willingness to participate in this return. Johnson Controls, as a company, has succeeded in this regard since 99% of its car batteries are given back by its patrons.

    The next shift is more intrinsic and involves choosing and using components in manufacturing that retain their basic properties even if the item they are a part of is dismantled. Thus, screws and nuts go on to serve other products that are being churned out by the brand, biodegradables like cardboard find their way back into nature and parts that are not of use to the parent company are sold to other industries via the Materials Marketplace Database.

    The Benefits of a Circular Economy and Gage’s Role in It:

    A Circular Economy is an elegant and efficient solution:

    – The buyers participate in recycling and by doing their part in reducing the money spent by manufacturers on raw material they help drive down the cost of the new goods they purchase.
    – Manufacturers not only recover a portion of the feed that goes into crafting each product for re-utilization, but they also sell what they can’t use to others who benefit from the scraps.
    – Nature and the planet are the biggest winners. Strategic reuse curbs greenhouse gas emissions and the vast load on limited resources is lightened.

    Gage Products Company is a visionary company that stays one step ahead of our peers. We are one of the few conscious suppliers who make an effort to embrace the principles of a Circular Economy. We reclaim solvent materials from the automobile giants we serve and filter what we obtain for sale in the market, reducing our waste and consumption footprint substantially. In need of our products or interested in contributing to a Circular Economy? Contact us today.

  2. We’re a ‘Green Leaders Automotive Innovation’ Honoree!

    Leave a Comment

    Our recent “Why Recycling Is Good For Your Company” blog discussed the cost-effective and eco-friendly bonuses of reusing existing materials instead of making new products out of raw materials. For the past few decades, we’ve aimed to set “green” standards within our industry while pioneering sustainable closed-loop recycling systems, which reduces costs and increases resource management.

    We’re proud that more than 100 million gallons of liquid organic materials has been recycled and remanufactured—especially when considering this material could have gone into a landfill or another form of disposal. We have also developed customized fuel blends made from Michigan-made sustainable resources such as ethanol-based fuels and biofuels.

    Many organizations across the globe make reducing greenhouse gas emissions and minimizing negative environmental impact a priority—and we consider ourselves one of those companies. Our commitment to reducing our environmental footprint through sustainable business practices that meet today’s needs and support the needs of future generations is important to us.

    By having sustainability ingrained in our corporate culture, we are fully committed to advancing our environmental programs and policies. For us, conducting business in a socially responsible manner is the only way to conduct business.

    Our hard work has been previously highlighted in Automotive Design & Production and Waste News, and we are excited to announce that the Detroit Free Press named us a Green Leaders Automotive Innovations honoree. Each year, the Free Press recognizes organizations working toward making Michigan a greener, more environmentally sustainable state, and for the past 25 years, that’s exactly what we’ve aspired to achieve­.

  3. Why Recycling Is Good For Your Company

    Leave a Comment

    Gage Products Company has been recycling for 25 years, which means more than 100 million gallons of liquid organic materials has been safely recycled and remanufactured in our facility. We are committed to sustainability, which is why our products are designed, formulated, and manufactured with recycling as a priority.

    There’s a common misconception that recycling is too expensive. Some might even believe it’s too time-consuming or won’t make a difference in the scheme of things. We whole-heartedly disagree.

    First of all, recycling isn’t a one-size-fits-all term. At a consumer level, recycling is as easy as reusing glass jars or plastic containers, but at a manufacturing level, it’s a little more in-depth. Take paper, for example, which can be recycled into other paper or burned for fuel—it’s more cost effective to use it in a fire than repurpose it, but either way, the environment is satisfied you’re not cutting down extra trees. However, in almost every instance, it takes less energy to repurpose existing materials than making new products from raw materials.

    Still don’t believe recycling is for you? Check out five statistics from Global Environment Services:

    • The energy saved from recycling one glass bottle can run a 100-watt light bulb for four hours.
    • The amount of recycled aluminum from 2012 could rebuild the entire world’s airplane commercial fleet every six months.
    • The amount of wood and paper people in the U.S. threw away last year is enough to heat 50 million homes for two decades.
    • Out of the 251 million tons of trash generated last year, only about 33 percent was recycled.
    • The disposable forks, cups, and spoons thrown away in 2012 could circle the equator 300 times.

    It’s clear there’s an earthly benefit to recycling, but most likely, you’re looking for a benefit for your company—and who isn’t? Many major brands already make money off of recycling, and your company can be next.  Paying waste disposal companies to collect your trash isn’t cheap, and having a recycling program within your company cuts down on wastes. Plus, a majority of states offer a tax credit for recycling equipment and more customers are looking toward “green” companies for products, which means more money will be in your pocket while you make eco-friendly decisions.

    Want more information on our award-winning recycling and sustainability solutions? Head over to our website.