The Important Difference Between Reuse and Recycling, and Why It Matters

In recent decades, there has been a growing interest in sustainable practices, from the boardroom and manufacturing plant to consumers' homes. In fact, modern consumers are increasingly focused on buying sustainable products from companies that care about the health of our planet. And while the age-old mantra of "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle" is still an important part of keeping our environment safer and cleaner, it's becoming increasingly clear that some sustainable practices offer more benefits and advantages than others.

Specifically, there has been a shift from recycling to a more circular operating economy that allows the resources needed for industrial processes to be used for as long as possible to conserve natural resources, eliminate waste and reduce energy consumption. While recycling may still be a useful part of this process, reuse is coming to the fore as a key sustainable practice for both consumers and businesses.

So, what's the difference between reusing and recycling?

Many people lump reuse and recycling into the same category, in part because sometimes recycling is the first step in reusing a product or resource. But there are specific differences that make reuse a much more important part of the sustainability process. Let's take a closer look at why:

Recycling: the good, the bad and the unsightly

Recycling can be a viable way to contribute to renewable resources, as less energy and resources are needed to recycle materials for industrial use than to use virgin sources of material. However, many people don't fully understand the complexities of recycling, so much waste that can be recycled, just isn't. It is estimated that only 30% of the materials that can be recycled are.

Some recycling methods can only recover low-quality materials that have limited benefits in the market, so advanced recycling technologies must be used. However, some of these technologies, such as thermochemical recycling, are energy-intensive, which can contribute to environmental impact. To truly achieve circularity, companies need to start rethinking the flow of materials and the design of new products. That's where repurposing really shines.

Why reuse should be the first choice for sustainability

Reuse requires less energy consumption than recycling and helps prevent materials from ending up in landfills. Not only does reuse reduce the waste stream and conserve natural resources, but it also produces less pollution and requires less energy than creating new products made from virgin materials. Not using virgin materials also has another benefit: it avoids the destruction of delicate ecosystems through the reduction of the use of raw materials.

Reusing items helps keep them in circulation, thus contributing more fully to a sustainable and circular economy.

How Reuse and Recycling Can Be a Powerful Combination

The best solution for a robust circular economy is a combination of recycling and reuse that can help collect and dispose of waste in a way that doesn't affect already overburdened landfills. Collecting recyclables and reusing them requires less energy than creating products with raw materials, and it also conserves our precious natural resources. In addition, both reuse and recycling can help stimulate the economy by adding much-needed jobs in various areas, from rural to urban. Recycling creates ten times more jobs than traditional waste disposal, while reuse projects create thirty times more jobs. According to a Recycling Economic Information (REI) report released by the Environmental Protection Agency in 2020, reuse and recycling activities contributed to 681,000 jobs, $5.5 billion in tax revenue, and $37.8 billion in wages in the United States alone. That's about 1.17 jobs created for every ton of recycled materials.

Clover Imaging Group can help your business become more sustainable

At Clover Imaging Group, we take sustainability very seriously. That's why we've combined reuse and recycling in our sustainability programs. Through our cartridge and remanufactured cartridge collection programs, we have successfully diverted 348,200,000 pounds of cartridges and empty parts from our nation's overburdened landfills. In addition, our remanufactured cartridges use 79% fewer materials for a 51% lower impact on the environment. Not only do we conserve 56% more natural resources through the remanufacturing of ink and toner cartridges, but we use 48% less energy in the manufacturing process. We're proud to note that the recycled content of our black and white and color toner cartridges is 89.6%, while our inkjet cartridges boast an astounding 96.89% recycled content. And any cartridges that can't be reused are responsibly recycled to help keep that circular economy going.

The best part is that this kind of sustainability is not only good for our planet, but also for business. Our remanufactured ink and toner cartridges meet or exceed the yield and throughput of typical OEM brands with ZERO out-of-the-box failures. Plus, they can save your business up to 40% on printing costs.

Author: Clover Imaging