17 May 2026

World Recycling Day – From Awareness to Action

IN THE NEWS

May 17th, marks World Recycling Day, highlighting the importance of responsible resource management in a context of growing consumption and increasingly complex waste streams.

Recycling plays a key role in reducing environmental impact — but its effectiveness depends on what happens at the end of a product’s life. When devices are not properly collected or treated, valuable materials are lost and environmental risks increase.

This is especially relevant for electronic products. As lifecycles become shorter, waste volumes rise — yet these devices still contain materials that can be recovered and reused if handled correctly.

What happens to your appliances?

When a large appliance — such as a washing machine or refrigerator — is returned through the right channel, it enters a controlled recycling process:

Hazardous components (like oils or gases) are safely removed
The appliance is dismantled and shredded
Materials such as metals and plastics are separated
These materials are reused in the production of new products

What may seem like waste becomes a valuable resource again.

From awareness to action

This process starts with a simple decision: how consumers dispose of their devices.

Returning products through proper take-back systems, separating waste correctly, and making informed choices all contribute to more effective resource management — and their collective impact is significant.

Supporting circular practices

Initiatives like Life EPICS help bridge awareness and action by:

training store staff to guide consumers on take-back options and correct recycling
integrating a recyclability element into the sustainability index to support more informed purchasing decisions

By encouraging repair, reuse, and better end-of-life management, these actions support a more circular use of resources.