The circular economy, a system of production and consumption that promotes sustainable use of resources, has become indispensable and is gaining more and more supporters. Electronic waste will exceed 53 million tonnes by 2021 and is the fastest growing form of waste in the world, with only 15% to 20% recycled, according to a recent study by the UN Environment Programme. Among those being reused, the refurbished market – pre-owned vehicles passing through manufacturers, evaluated and wear parts exchanged, with pre-owned warranties – is gaining ground, especially in equipment such as smartphones, laptops and tablets.
According to data recently released by IDC, more than 282 million used and refurbished smartphones will be sold by 2022, a market that will reach 415 million by 2026, for a total value of €93.6 billion. This represents a growth of about 10% per year.
But you are mistaken if you think that only this type of equipment can be given a second life. Cars, large equipment that is delivered for scrapping at the end of the cycle and of which very little is reused and put back into production, which also causes an environmental problem, are products that are now entering this segment of the circular economy . Renault pioneered this and opened the first car remanufacturing plant, the Renault Re-factory, in Flins, in northern France. Meanwhile, it announced the opening of a new unit in Seville and, according to Hugo Barbosa, the brand’s communications director in Portugal, the installation of more units in countries where Renault has production is being studied. As for the installation of a Re-factory also in Portugal, at the unit in Cacia, everything is still open.
According to this official, the establishment of a more efficient vehicle reconditioning line – the Seville plant estimates it will recondition about 10,000 units a year, between electric and internal combustion engines – will allow the vehicles to return to the market in just nine days. , against the usual average of 35 days on the track outside the factory. In other words, a lease car that is returned to the brand is delivered to a dealer in a normal process, goes to another location and is repaired in a usual external circuit. With Re-factory, which has a multidisciplinary team, all inspections are resolved quickly and then routed through the stations required for reconditioning.
“Because the process is more efficient and economical, it saves the final price of the car when it goes back to market. The process is so efficient that the car goes into a 360-degree camera, a photo studio, and the pictures are automatically taken and placed online to make the vehicle immediately available on the sales network,” explains Hugo Barbosa. This action by Renault is part of a global strategy to achieve carbon neutrality by 2040 and to participate even more in the car lifecycle. “The car industry has reinvented itself and this is a way to reduce consumerism. This will also allow more efficient and safer cars to come back to the market faster and thus help to renew the fleet, which in Portugal is 14 years old on average. it.” , says the director of the brand.
Seat also announced its intention to build the same type of factory for its cars, but when contacted, the company refused to make a statement on the matter.
Refurbished coffee machines
Delta is one of the brands that will offer refurbished coffee machines from the second quarter of this year based on a sustainability strategy for the entire Nabeiro group. According to Mónica Oliveira, Marketing and Communications Director of the brand, “the reconditioning is done internally, by the technical assistance of the Nabeiro group and by specialized teams, to give a new lease of life to this equipment”. The same official states that the Nabeiro Group, led by Rui Miguel Nabeiro, is committed to environmentally sustainable business practices, invests in the development of new technologies and works continuously to reduce the environmental impact of its activities and offerings. “We intend to continue to play an active role in creating value for society, contributing to the adoption of more responsible behavior while adding value to the different moments of consumption and sharing offered by coffee “, he explains, adding that they hope that with this initiative they can contribute to the promotion of more sustainable consumption habits. The machines will be made available online for purchase.
Source: DN
