The difference between reusing, recycling and reutilising waste: a complete guide

Today, to promote the circular economy and preserve the environment, certain operations are to be favored. It's useful to know the difference between the difference between reuse and recycling in order to understand their environmental implications. We explain these different processes in this article, and take an example with Orak's reuse of carpets.

Understanding reuse, recycling and reutilization

What's the difference between reusing, reusing and recycling materials?

The reuse refers to an operation that gives goods a second life. They are not waste and can therefore be used again. Their use remains the same as that for which the object was manufactured.
The reuse concerns waste. In this case, the object can be used for a purpose other than that originally intended. For example, a glass bottle can be used as a vase.

The recycling is the reuse of the raw material of a product that has become waste, to make a new object.

Benefits and challenges of each practice

L'Lansink scale is a tool that introduces a reflection on waste treatment to help us achieve a circular economy. It is a hierarchical

which was first introduced in the Netherlands by Ad Lansink in 1979.

The Lansink scale is often used to guide waste management policies in favor of more sustainable practices. Here is the scale in its order of priority:

Prevention Prevention: reduce the amount of waste produced;
Reuse To use products or materials again without transforming them;
Recycling Recycling: transforming materials to make new products;
Energy recovery Using waste to produce energy;
Disposal Landfill or incineration without energy recovery.

This hierarchy can also be applied to the carpet sector. Indeed, Orak is committed to limiting the environmental impact of carpet tiles. Here's how the Lansink scale can be applied:

Prevention: choose high-quality, durable carpet tiles, make sure they are properly installed and implement maintenance to reduce the need for replacement.
Reuse : reinstall carpet tiles in good condition in good condition in other spaces where they can still be used.
Recycling : Send used carpet tiles to a recycling facility where fibers and other materials can be recovered to create new products.
Energy recovery: using non-recyclable non-recyclable carpet tiles for energy productionfor example, in waste-to-energy plants.
Disposal: as a last resort, carpet tiles that cannot be recycled or recovered are safely disposed of, often by landfill.

Focus on carpet: reuse as an environmental solution

Introduction to the environmental impact of carpet and the importance of reuse in its sustainable management

Carpet manufacture can have an impact on the impact on the environment. It requires significant resources such as water and energy to operate the equipment. What's more, some manufacturers use non-renewable raw materials. As a result, carpets produce waste that is sometimes neither reusable nor recyclable.

Today, many manufacturers of quality French and international carpets are involved in an eco-responsible approach. eco-responsible approach. These companies include Balsan offer sustainable, eco-designed materials and use recycled fibers.

Carpet reuse service: Orak's solution

At Orak, the carpet reuse is at the heart of our eco-responsible approach:

Once the carpet tiles have been collected from customers, they are catalogued, cleaned, sorted and reconditioned. The reused tiles supplied to customers have the same technical characteristics as the original tiles.
The regular carpet maintenance ensures durability and prevents premature replacement;
The value of your carpet is a priority. Our re-use target is 40-80% after initial use.

Benefits of reusing carpet

The reuse of carpet has a number of advantages over compared with recycling:

Save money by reusing carpet tiles in another space without investing in another floor covering;
Optimize your CSR approach to contribute to the circular economy and reduce your carbon footprint;
Protect the environment by reducing waste.