Energy chain series switched to recycled material

The European Union wants to establish a circular and climate-neutral economy by 2050 at the latest. Instead of producing waste, a functioning circular economy is based on the 'cradle-to-cradle' concept. Consumer goods are returned to the natural and technical cycle in order to conserve valuable resources and raw materials.

Igus shows that this is no longer a dream of the future with the E2.1 energy chain series, which will be completely converted to recycled material from this spring. The company is taking this step after introducing the first energy chain made from recycled material in 2022. The energy chain series is now made from the recycled material igumid CG LW. This consists of post-consumer recyclate, for example from old fishing nets, as well as used energy chains that are recycled and processed into recyclate as part of the company's own 'chainge' program.

Sustainability without additional costs or loss of quality

According to the manufacturer, the energy chains made from the sustainable material not only have comparable mechanical properties to the standard material, but are also available at the same price as the previous E2.1 series. The energy chains even offer the same quality in terms of wear behavior, stability and continuous bending cycles. The series offers a long service life, particularly quiet running and easy filling and assembly. "With this recycled chain series, we are enabling customers to make a contribution to the circular economy for plastics together with us," says Jörg Ottersbach, Head of the e-chains business unit at Igus. "By switching to igumid CG LW, we are demonstrating that the circular economy and cost-effectiveness are by no means mutually exclusive." Compared to the standard material, the recycled material has an 80% lower_{CO2 footprint}.

Around 170 tons of material collected

Since 2019, Igus has been taking back used energy chains from all manufacturers as part of the 'chainge' program. In 2022, the recycling initiative was expanded to include an online platform through which customers can also recycle other components made of engineering plastics and at the same time purchase processed material in the form of regrind and regranulate. In addition to taking back old energy chains, Igus also takes back old material as part of assembly orders. Around 170 tons of plastic have already been recycled via the 'chainge' platform.