The format of tossing out valuable items is gone, circularity is on the uptick
One of Europe’s leading exponents of the circular economy has welcomed the new ‘right to repair’ legislation as the logical next step for manufacturing and supply chain.
As a family-owned pooling business, the Faber Halbertsma Group has been championing the circular economy through its sustainable pallet pooling network for nearly 25 years, and CEO Ingrid Faber thinks the new Europe-wide law presents a fantastic opportunity for manufacturers to help speed up the cultural shift to a ‘fix not throw’ mentality.
The new legislation, which empowers consumers to fix their broken electrical products, will impose a legal obligation for manufacturers to offer spare product parts for the first time.
With the aim to extend the lifespan of products by up to 10 years, officials estimate that higher energy efficiency standards will save consumers an average of £75 a year on bills over their lifetimes.
Ingrid said: “The Faber Halbertsma Group has been rooted in circularity since its beginning in 1891, with the current structure providing ethically sourced timber, which is meticulously assessed, repaired, and reused for load carriers until they reach the end of their lifespan. After this, they are either used as biomass for the heating of factories or repurposed as floorboards for horse stables.
“We believe that circles are better than rows, and the UK government is coming to this realization. It will be interesting to see if the new legislation encourages more individuals and businesses to become more environmentally conscious.
“The new legislation highlights why elongating the life of all objects, whether pallets or products is essential, not only for our planet but our people.
“It is our hope that more companies can look at our business model and know that circularity can mean both corporate and environmental success.”
For more information on the Faber Halbertsma Group, visit www.faberhalbertsmagroup.com or search for Faber Halbertsma Group on LinkedIn.