Turning waste into climate solutions

In our journey towards a sustainable future, turning waste into climate solutions is a critical step.

At Inspired, we believe in the power of innovation and technology to transform waste management, reducing the environmental footprint. Here’s how we can make a difference together.

Reducing Waste and Embodied Emissions

When it comes to waste management, there are two primary objectives: reducing the amount of materials that aren’t being recycled or refurbished, and finding beneficial uses for the waste that can’t be avoided.

Reducing waste is crucial for decreasing the demand for raw materials. The goods we use have “embodied emissions,” which are the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with their creation. These emissions include the extraction and production of materials, the energy needed for manufacturing, and the transportation and distribution within the supply chain. Typically, the most emissions-intensive portion of these embodied emissions is associated with the extraction and production of the materials used in the product.

When a product is disposed of and sent to a landfill or incinerated, its materials can’t be reused. However, if the materials of a no-longer usable product can be recycled and eventually reused, this significantly benefits emissions. The new product made from these reused materials wouldn’t need to extract or produce new material, drastically reducing its embodied emissions.

The Role of New Technologies

New technologies, including AI, are improving the ways that waste is sorted, increasing recycling rates, and minimising how much waste ends up in landfills.

These technological improvements continue to enable the application of circular economy principles, thereby reducing overall demand for new materials and the emissions-intensive processes involved in their production. These principles also benefit organisations in their value chain (Scope 3) emissions reporting and net-zero ambitions by decreasing the emissions associated with purchased goods.

Innovations in Waste-to-Energy Programs

Some waste, such as food waste, can’t be recycled or refurbished. However, innovations allow these waste types to be used in other beneficial ways.

For example, waste-to-energy programs convert non-recyclable waste into biofuel that can replace fossil fuels. It’s essential to note that biofuel production should prioritise the use of unavoidable waste over cultivating organic material specifically for biofuel, as this can have a negative impact on food resources and land availability.

Additional Benefits of Organic Waste

Aside from energy creation, organic waste can be used in additional beneficial ways.

For example, biochar, a charcoal-like substance created by heating organic material in a low-oxygen environment, can improve soil health by helping soil retain nutrients and boost microbial material. Biochar also acts as a carbon store, preventing the release of carbon into the atmosphere that comes from the decomposition of organic material.