Waste to Value: very profitable and sustainable at the same time

Theia Learn
Feb 5

What is waste to value

Waste to Value (WtV) is a transformative approach that converts waste by-products into profitable and sustainable resources. In industrial settings, WtV strategies enable transformation of waste into valuable materials. By implementing modular and scalable system designs, businesses can efficiently adapt to diverse waste streams, optimizing both environmental impact and financial returns.

The Importance of Waste to Value for an organizational success

Every organization generates waste—whether in the form of water, energy, chemicals, or material product waste such as e-waste. These by-products represent untapped value, which is often lost due to traditional linear business models focused on production and consumption without considering reuse and recycling.

Sustainability is now a key driver of success for businesses worldwide. Increased consumer awareness, regulatory requirements, and government policies are pushing organizations to rethink how they handle waste. 

Adopting WtV systems and solutions allows businesses to eliminate waste by reusing resources, extending their lifecycle. This not only boosts profitability but also offers environmental and social benefits. Skilled professionals are needed to help businesses implement this approach.

Core Waste to Value strategies

Three key strategies underpin WtV opportunities, creating economic and environmental value: reduce, recycle, and repurpose.

01.

Reduce: maximizing efficiency and profitability

  • Minimizing waste at the source leads to cost savings and operational efficiency.
  • Engaging with suppliers and modifying production processes reduces waste generation.
  • For example, a collaboration with 40 organizations in the healthcare sector analysed plastic waste in medical supplies, identifying alternative materials that could reduce landfill waste by 85,000 tonnes and cut carbon emissions by 235,000 tonnes.

02.

Re(or Up)cycle: turning waste into valuable resources

  • Recycling reduces raw material costs and enhances brand sustainability.
  • Designing products for recyclability ensures resources can be recovered and reused efficiently.
  • As an example, a food brand is optimizing organic by-product recycling, moving towards a zero-waste production model.

03. 

Repurpose: unlocking new revenue streams

  • Repurposing waste offers innovative opportunities to create high-value products from discarded materials.
  • For example, an innovative start-up company converts municipal solid waste into a thermoplastic alternative, reducing CO2 emissions and providing a sustainable replacement for traditional plastics.
  • Or, another example is when in the construction sector, plastic waste is being transformed into a durable concrete alternative, enhancing both sustainability and efficiency.

Career opportunities in Waste to Value

With the global shift towards sustainability, the demand for waste-to-value professionals is growing.

Some of the key roles include:

Circular economy specialists: experts in resource recovery and sustainable business strategies.

Bioenergy engineers: innovators in waste-to-energy conversion.

Recycling process engineers: specialists developing new recycling and material recovery techniques.

Sustainability analysts: researchers assessing waste values, impacts and opportunities.

What needs to be done?

To fully unlock the potential of WtV, businesses and policymakers must:

Develop stronger policies: governments should create incentives for waste-to-value solutions.

Invest in technology: advancements in modular and scalable waste processing systems are crucial.

Promote education and training: equipping professionals with the right skills will accelerate the waste to value efforts.

Encourage industry collaboration: partnerships will drive innovation and help organizations identify new waste to value opportunities.

How Theia Learn supports your career in the sustainability sectors including WtV

At Theia Learn, we help individuals navigate careers in sustainability through education and mentorship.

Our programs provide: 

Insights into in-demand roles within sustainability

Provision of personal coaching and practice skills to support you in accessing emerging technologies and strategies within the sustainability sector.

Networking opportunities with industry leaders and innovators. 

By embracing Waste to Value, organizations can drive profitability while contributing to global sustainability. With innovative recycling and energy solutions, the future of waste management is poised for transformation. 
 

Article written by:
Charlotte Ratcliffe and Lana Solesen, Theia Learn
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