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4.4 Best practices developed to identify the potential impact of material loops

Best practice 1. Viessmann. Identify potential material loops

Viessmann is the oldest organisation registered in the European EMAS register, having joined 22 years ago.
The German company is an international producer of individual and industrial heating and cooling systems.
Viessman eco-designs products: it uses recycled materials and marks each component so that it can be
easily maintained and replaced. The company set up its own take-back system in 1995, inviting clients to
bring back products at their end-of-life. More than 90 % of these returned products are recycled. As early
as 1997, the company carried out a study on how to implement a circular economy. The project looked at
the potential of re-using components, but found that the innovation cy- cles in the industry were
unfortunately too short for re- use to be a viable option. By continuously improving its environmental
performance, the company increased its productivity by 20 % (lean production), reduced its steel
consumption per boiler by 30 %, and achieved a recycling rate above 99 % for all unavoidable waste. 1

“We try to reduce material consumption all the time. It is natural from a resource and cost point of view.
Our research and development focuses on reducing the weight of products, for example by looking at how
we could reduce the thickness of tubes made of copper. This is also a great incentive for innovation.”

GUIDO SCHWAB
ENVIRONMENT REPRESENTATIVE VIESSMANN

More info: viessmann

Best practice 2. Seacourt. Identify potential material loops

Seacourt Ltd, the 2017 EMAS Award winner in the category “Small and Medium Private Organisations”,
was one of the world’s first printing companies to achieve “zero waste to landfill”. The company
systematically looks for reuse or recycling options for all waste produced. Paper and cardboard waste
is re-pulped into paper and the company reuses its aluminium printing plates. Seacourt also sends food
waste to wormeries that transform the waste into fertiliser, which is then offered to clients to grow chilli
plants.

More info: seacourt

1 Speech of Mr. Greis, Chief Representative of Viessmann at the EMAS high level conference in November 2015:
www.ec.europa.eu/environment/emas/pdf/pdf_and_images_HLC_Site/Speeches/Greis_plenary.pdf