Chapter 5
The Circular Economy: The 10R’s Model

We have used Reike et al.’s (2018) model of the 10R's.

The R7-R9 CE practices create long-loop value, R4-R6 practices create middle-loop value, and R0-R3 practices create short-loop value for the implementing companies.

From a manufacturing perspective, long-loops are where components and products lose their original function, and hence lose value, though the material value is captured.

Medium-loops are where material, component, and product value are captured through the re-involvement of producers, and subsequently, less value is lost.

Short-loops are where a product remains close to its most valuable state and function; hence, the most value is retained in the materials, components, and products.

It is desirable to maintain value, and hence keep the loops as short as possible for their materials, components, and products.

Re-mine
+
Salvage material streams from waste.
Retrieval of materials after the landfilling phase. Hi-tech landfill mining or urban mining.
- Mine wood chips for metal (e.g., nails, strapping) for recycling
- Metals are extracted from electronic goods and circuits
Case example
IM Group: Extracting precious metals from unusable components
Energy recovery
+
Convert waste into energy. Capturing energy embodied in waste, linking it to incineration in combination with producing energy, distilled water or use of biomass.
- Non-recyclable burnable wood off-cuts chipped to burn for office heating
- Lower-grade wood chips are used to fuel a dryer and a steam generator
Case example
Smart Recycling: Using lower-grade woodchips as fuel for burner
Recycle
+
Salvage material streams with the highest possible value
Processing of mixed streams of postconsumer products or post-producer waste streams using expensive technological equipment, including shredding, melting and other processes to capture (nearly) pure materials.
- Recycle wood waste as wood chips, for mulch, animal bedding, burner fuel, and the like
- Foam waste is crumbed in-house, picked up and recycled by the foam manufacturer, and returned as the padding material
- Resource recovery from waste materials
Case example
Textile Recyclers: Shredding clothes into yarn
Repurpose
+
Re-use product but with other function
Reusing discarded goods or components adapted for another function.
- Salvageable (undamaged) components of unrepairable products (e.g. furniture) remanufactured into a new purpose
- Pallet beams and bearers are crafted from other timber waste
- Unusable timber is converted to wood chips for gardening
Case example
Casafico: Using building waste materials for input to new building products
Remanufacture
+
Make new products from used product components.
The structure of a multi-component product is disassembled, checked, cleaned and when necessary, replaced or repaired in an industrial process, recycled parts may be used expected retained quality more tempered: “up to the original state, like new”.
- The same type of furniture is assembled using undamaged material components from rejected furniture.
- New pallets are assembled utilising usable beams and bearers from unrepairable/un-refurbishable pallets
Case example
Egans Asset Management: Furniture is manufactured from un-damaged components of rejected furniture
Refurbish
+
Revive product.
The overall structure of a large multi-component product remains intact, while many components are replaced or repaired, resulting in an overall ‘upgrade’ of the quality of the product.
- Furniture returned for reupholstery service
- Usable parts from rejected furniture replace badly damaged parts of other furniture
- Pallets that need major work (e.g., replace beams) are fixed
Case example
Jardan: Reupholsters furniture to extend length of product life
Repair
+
Maintain and repair product.
Send collected products to their own repair centres, manufacturer-controlled, or to third-party repair centres. Distinguishing ‘planned repair’ as part of a longer-lasting maintenance plan from ‘ad-hoc’ repairs.
- Repair the furniture that is slightly damaged fixed back into high quality
- Repairable products (e.g. furniture) returned under the product stewardship program are repaired and returned to customers
- Repair the pallets that need some work (e.g., re-nailing)
Case example
Arrow MPS: Providing repair and maintenance service for customers
Resell-Reuse
+
Sell or donate the product for re-use (second hand).
Direct re-use as economic activity via collectors and retailers, possibly with quality inspections, cleaning and small repairs (commercial and non-commercial).
Direct re-use of unsold returns or products with damaged packaging, including multiple re-uses of packaging.
Re-use in fabrication apply recycled materials.
- Reusing waste for making smaller components
- The furniture collected that are graded as in perfect shape are resold directly
- If the original owner no longer wants the product (e.g. returned through product stewardship), it is resold at the factory outlet
- Pallets that they receive that are graded in good shape are sold again
Case example
Close the Loop: Product as a service re-filling used ink cartridges
Reduce
+
Decrease raw materials use.
As explicit steps in product design, using less material per unit of production or dematerialisation.
- Product designed for longevity
- Renewable energy via solar panels.
- Reduction of energy consumption (e.g., LED lighting)
- Reduced material waste
- Wastewater collection for use
- Reusable packing
Case example
Grainstone: Use residue brewery streams as input for their products
Refuse
+
Prevent raw materials use.
Refuse the use of specific hazardous materials or any virgin material. Design production processes to avoid waste.
- Ethical and responsible sourcing
- Use of only sourcing sustainability certified raw materials
- Materials sourced from Australian suppliers
- Refuse toxic glues and lacquers
- Refuse non-recycled material/products
Case example
Precious Plastics: Only use plastic waste for their product inputs