Hager Group develops the use of recycled materials for the manufacture of electrical boxes

By PR influence Published on Thursday, September 12, 2019 at 02:00 AM

Photo credits : HAGER

As part of the Hager Group's sustainable development approach, 85% of the Hager brand built-in polymer electrical boxes now incorporate recycled polystyrene.

85% of Hager brand polymer flush-mounted electrical boxes now incorporate recycled polystyrene.

In 2018, the group launched a circular economy pilot project: replacing the virgin materials in two plastic parts of built-in electrical boxes with recycled materials from WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment).

To make this transition, the sustainable development department and the group's engineers were supported by the eco-organization Eco-systèmes-Récylum (ESR), responsible for the collection and recycling of end-of-life electrical and electronic equipment in France.

In this case, the eco-organization provided Hager Group with its expertise to identify recycling companies able to offer the recycled material sought.

Hager Group chose Galloo Plastics, a company based in Halluin, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France. The selection was based on the technical qualities of the recycled material provided by this company, which specializes in plastics processing, and its ability to supply the necessary volumes.

Today, this polystyrene from old refrigerators is used at two electrical box production sites: La Roca del Vallés in Spain and Blieskastel in Germany. These electrical boxes are now made from 33% recycled polystyrene.

"Our goal now is to introduce objectives into our overall product eco-design strategy to encourage the integration of recycled materials from the design stage," explains Skander Hassayoune, sustainable development engineer at Hager Group.

"The approach of a committed manufacturer like Hager is fully in line with the transition to a circular economy, by giving plastics a second life in new equipment. Our role is to provide them with our technical and regulatory expertise, and to facilitate their connection with stakeholders in the recycled plastics sector," emphasizes Pierre-Marie Assimon, Head of Studies and Eco-design at ESR.

For over 10 years, Hager Group has been developing numerous initiatives to reduce or reuse waste generated by plastic injection workshops. These internal initiatives include regrinding offcuts and reducing their use by implementing hot-runner injection molds.