What do we see?
As the graph below illustrates, the production of secondary raw materials has continued to rise since 2009, with the exception of a decline in corona year 2020. This is partly explained by the fact that, from 2012 onwards, streams are reported as raw materials that before the new raw materials regime in VLAREMA were reported neither as waste nor as secondary raw materials: the scope has thus widened compared to the period before.
What’s the aim?
In a circular economy, materials are kept in use for as long and of as high quality as possible. When that is no longer possible, raw materials are put back into circulation as much as possible. This reduces the production, consumption and associated impacts of primary raw materials. Circularity is not only evident from the production of secondary raw materials, but the quality of the secondary materials towards subsequent applications is also important, and the ultimate goal is to meet our needs with minimal material input.
