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Leading the way to the circular economy
To help preserve the Earth’s resources for future generations, ABB takes a company-wide approach to circularity. We aim to innovate towards new circular business models by cutting waste, increasing recyclability and reusability, and making our products more durable. We work closely with customers and suppliers to embed circularity across the value chain.
In 2022, ABB launched its EcoSolutionsTM label, providing full transparency on a product’s circularity value and environmental impact.
Towards circular business models
- By 2030, at least 80 percent of ABB’s products and solutions will be covered by our circularity approach and evaluated against a clear set of key performance indicators (KPIs), corresponding to each stage of the product lifecycle.
- We will send no waste to landfill, wherever this is compatible with local conditions. Today, close to 40 percent of our 400 sites around the world already send no waste to landfill.
- By 2030, our goal is that at least 80 percent of our supply spend in focus countries will be covered by a supplier sustainability framework, which includes environment, but also social and governance performance (ESG).
Enabling our customers to become more circular
ABB’s comprehensive circularity approach is built around a framework that drives circularity in our own operations and enables our customers to become more circular. By 2030, we aim to innovate towards new circular business models, covering all stages of the product lifecycle.
- Design & sourcing
- Operations
- Use phase
- Responsible end-of-life
We are designing our products to be sustainable, which means making them more durable and maximizing the content that can be reused and recycled to eliminate waste. We source raw materials with the maximum amount of sustainable content.
Example:
ABB’s highest-efficiency motors use no rare-earth materials
ABB’s award-winning synchronous reluctance (SynRM) motors deliver the highest energy efficiency of any current design and require no rare-earth materials in their manufacture.
High efficiency
Compared with earlier-generation motors, ABB’s IE5 ultra-premium SynRM motor reduces energy losses by up to 40 percent.
Less waste
With a magnet-free design, SynRM motors contain no rare-earth materials, which reduces resource consumption in their manufacture and creates less waste.
Prolonged lifetime
With up to 30°C lower winding temperatures and up to 15°C lower bearing temperatures, SynRM motors increase reliability, prolong motor lifetime and reduce the need for maintenance.
Reaching IE5 efficiency with magnet-free motors
Thanks to an innovative rotor design, SynRM motors have significantly lower energy losses than comparable induction motors, saving energy and running at a lower temperature, which reduces service needs and the risk of failure.
Within our own operations, we strive to avoid waste by making our products and processes more efficient and maximizing the use of sustainable materials for packaging. We continuously seek ways to improve logistics efficiency.
Example:
ABB factory eliminates waste sent to landfills in just two years
Close to 40 percent of ABB’s 400 sites around the world are already sending no waste to landfill. One landmark example is our Smart Power manufacturing unit in Frosinone, Italy.
Zero waste
Through rigorous waste sorting and identification, the factory separates production waste into around 150 categories of material.
Innovative operations
The factory has been recognized as a ‘Lighthouse plant’ by the Italian government for digital transformation and Industry 4.0 strategies.
Workforce involvement
Every workstation has separate waste containers for cardboard/paper and plastic.
Zero waste to landfill achieved at ABB’s Frosinone factory in Italy
Zero production waste to landfill has been achieved at ABB Smart Power’s manufacturing unit in Frosinone, Italy — 14 years ahead of the European Union’s Circular Economy Package target of no more than 10 percent landfilling by 2035.
We support our customers with products and services that increase resource and process efficiency, enable upgrades and optimize the lifetime of their equipment and facilities.
Example:
Using paper mill technology to recycle textiles more efficiently
With ABB technology, a former paper mill will be transformed into the world’s first commercial-scale recycling plant for cellulosic textiles – created by dissolving natural materials such as cellulose which is then regenerated to create a wide range of fabrics.
Repurposing old equipment
New technology turns pulp-drying mill into world’s first commercial-scale recycling plant for cellulosic textiles.
Reducing waste sent to landfills
Recycled textiles would otherwise be disposed of in landfills or incinerated.
Saving water
Recycling textiles uses far less fresh water than producing them from scratch; new plant is expected to save 90 billion liters each year, equivalent to 36,000 Olympic-sized pools.
ABB helps make fashion industry more sustainable with innovative technology
ABB wins large-scale order for automation, electrification, quality control systems, motors and drives at world’s first commercial-scale textile recycling plant.
We offer take-back services, leading to refurbishment, re-use or recycling of products and components and we provide instructions for responsible end-of-life of treatment of our products.
Example:
Recycling and remanufacturing of old robots
Remanufacturing enables existing robot users to sell inactive or legacy robots to ABB with an attractive buy-back service, rather than scrapping them or leaving them unused.
Extended life
Sourcing unused and discontinued robots for remanufacturing ensures older robots avoid being scrapped prematurely
Flexibility and productivity
Remanufactured robots help customers unlock new functionalities and advanced services while reducing maintenance costs and maximizing return on investment.
Two-year warranty
Buyers of refurbished equipment receive support from local service teams, including installation and training.
ABB makes manufacturing more sustainable by recycling and remanufacturing thousands of old robots
For more than 25 years, ABB has been refurbishing and upgrading old robots to give them a second life. As well as previously owned robots, peripheral equipment such as controllers and manipulators are refurbished to “like-new” conditions.
Making a world of difference
Explore more case studies to discover how ABB and our customers are working together to build a sustainable future.
