What’s old is new again – literally. Take the paper you are holding in your hands, around 30 per cent of which was used at least once before. Reading this on a screen? When your PC or e-reader becomes obsolete, it is increasingly likely to be recycled as well.
As environmental awareness has grown, companies worldwide have touted their efforts to create a greener planet. But re-using materials is increasingly about a different kind of green.
Recycling generates nearly $240bn in annual output, 1.7 per cent of gross domestic product, in the US. Three-fourths comes from manufacturers who save money or meet regulations by using old material as new inputs and the rest from those who collect and process the stuff.