Expert interview: recyclability of ETNA coffee machines
What is a material passport?
ETNA coffee machines are designed with minimum environmental impact in mind, from raw material selection to assembly. Understanding the sustainability and life cycle of a coffee machine is essential here. Material passports provide valuable insights into the environmental impact and sustainability of products. In this interview with ETNA’s Product Manager, Ben Welleweerd, we dive into ETNA’s efforts to create more sustainable and recyclable products.
Brief introduction of Ben
We start the interview with Ben introducing himself: “My name is Ben Welleweerd, as Product Manager at ETNA Coffee Technologies I’m responsible for developing our product strategies, defining product positioning and driving product developments with a strong focus on sustainability."
What is a material passport?
“Material passports serve as a comprehensive guide to the materials used in our products and provide essential information that helps with recycling.
” Ben begins "At ETNA, recyclability is an important issue. This is why we work with material passports for our coffee machines. A material passport provides an overview of all materials used in a specific coffee machine, broken down in weight percentages. This overview provides insight into the recyclability of the materials used for the various components. This transparency helps consumers make better informed decisions about environmental impact and sustainability."
The interview continues by asking how the machines should be recycled, and Ben says: “We encourage customers to take advantage of our recycling programme”. Ben adds: "Our goal is to achieve a recyclability of at least 95%. We do this by considering the recyclability of the components starting from the design phase. We try to keep as few different materials inextricably connected to each other as possible. The result of this policy is that our machines have a very high recyclability rate, currently between 95.2 and 97.2%."
Want to know more about sustainability at ETNA?
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What steps is ETNA preparing to further develop the recyclability of its coffee machines?
Ben highlights ETNA's commitment to continuous improvement. "By providing insight into the material use in the material passports, we can further optimise the products by designing components more intelligently. This allows us to quickly see what changes in component materials impact the recyclability of the coffee machine."
Certified recycling companies
Stichting OPEN
ETNA is a member of the Stichting OPEN (OPEN Foundation). This means a removal fee is paid for each machine. This means that all ETNA machines can be recycled correctly at the end of their service life at no cost to the customer. The Stichting OPEN arranges sustainable and environmentally conscious recycling of collected discarded electrical appliances. The electrical appliances are sorted after collection. Some appliances are dismantled manually for reuse or better recycling. Where possible, this activity is handled by people who would otherwise find it difficult to access the labour market. The e-waste is then processed in the best possible way by CENELEC-certified processors. Environmentally hazardous substances such as batteries and capacitors are also disposed of. This means the collected appliances are eventually all recycled into new raw materials. For more information about the Stichting OPEN, visit www.stichting-OPEN.org
WEEE NEDERLAND B.V.
ETNA is also a member and affiliate of WEEE Nederland B.V. This is currently an important collection and recycling platform, especially in Germany. WEEE stands for Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment. WEEE is the common name for the European directive that regulates the collection and recycling of this waste stream. For more information on WEEE, visit www.WEEE.nl
Conclusion
Publishing a material passport provides insight into the entire life cycle of a coffee machine, from its composition and origin to its recyclability and disposal at the end of its service life. This transparency empowers consumers to make informed decisions and also promotes a circular economy through the use of sustainable materials and efficient waste management.
The insights on the environmental impact of these everyday devices underscore the broader implications of our choices in technology and consumer goods. By choosing products with a clear and responsible material passport, we not only support the conservation of natural resources, but also the move towards a more sustainable world.
ETNA coffee machines' material passports can be found on this website under the relevant product.
More information about ETNA’s sustainability vision can be found in our Duurzaamheidsverslag.
