Creating a Circular Economy from Plastic Waste

To create a circular economy all outputs must be able to become inputs, including plastic waste. We understand that for many businesses, reusing plastic waste is difficult if not impossible. That’s where iSustain and Nexus Circular’s partnership comes in. Our unique partnership eliminates many hurdles for your company to become a part of the circular economy.  The iSustain and Nexus partnership enhances iSustain’s ability to accept more plastic waste for both advanced and mechanical recycling.  

But to take a step back, what is a circular economy?

Eliminate Mass Consumption of Virgin Resources

Today we suffer from what is known as a linear economy. We remove resources from the ground, we make something, then we dispose of it. “Linear” means a one-way process, and that process ends in waste! We have to change: resources on our planet are limited and we must develop a way to reuse materials.

“The circular economy contrasts with the prevalent linear economic system in which we make, use and then dispose of products, components and materials. Elements of circular economy classifications include a focus on improving material efficiency (i.e., reducing waste through material reuse and recycling), broader resource efficiency and industrial ecology approaches, durable consumer goods, renewable energy, increased energy efficiency and elements of the shared economy.” – International Institute for Sustainable Development

We are all now seeing the impact of a linear economy 

• Virgin resources are being depleted.
• The cost of virgin resources is increasing
• Environmental Impact is becoming Castarohic

We need to better manage our limited resources. The linear economy is generating waste in epic proportions and we need a solution.

The solution? A circular economy. 

We must create systems that require minimal virgin raw materials.   A circular economy requires finding creative and profitable ways to feed production processes and manage byproducts (such as plastic waste) efficiently.  The ultimate goal of a circular economy is to lessen dependence on virgin raw materials.

The Current Operational Processes are Unsustainable

The current economy is built on a foundation of virgin raw materials that will eventually be exhausted. We need to find alternative sources for these essential goods in order to ensure our long-term sustainability and meet Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

With manufacturing, in particular, the key to becoming more circular is not one single aspect, but rather finding sustainable ways to meet your company’s feedstock needs, as well as managing any byproducts that may be produced. A report from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation estimates that the full value of circular opportunities, globally, could be as much as $700 billion each year in materials savings. 

The Circular Economy is Constantly Being Improved

The circular economy is an ever-changing concept that’s still being conceived. It has the potential to be a whole new system for a business, or could just provide minor tweaks and improvements on current recycling practices for your business.

Either way, it is an effort to minimize the use of virgin resources and use plastic waste or byproducts as raw materials. The environmental drive is to protect our planet, and the financial goal is to prepare for spreading governmental guidelines and regulations in areas such as energy conservation, waste reduction, and reduced consumption.

Together iSustain + Nexus Circular are creating and driving a circular economy.   Plastic waste through advanced recycling technology can be reduced back to its original molecular structure and become virgin resin again. Our technology solves the challenges of regenerating plastics, as this technology makes plastic infinitely recyclable.

The partnership between iSustain and Nexus Circular is to make it as easy as possible to get started. With iSustain’s proven waste stream analysis and logistics model, together we can help more plastic waste enter the circular economy and end the use of single-use plastics.