Spotlight on Sustainability

The Epitome of Sustainability – Designing for a Second Life

The last of the 4 Rs of sustainability is (in my opinion), the most brilliant. Reduce, Reuse and Recycle are great, but the creativity and resourcefulness of manufacturers that are able to Repurpose material put them way ahead of the curve.

Our industry’s ‘best use standards’ for raw materials is to plan ahead so they can be used at least twice. Instead of expending the energy to have them recycled back into the same raw material from which they came, we’re encouraged to use portions of the product after its ‘death’ as either transplantable ‘stock’ materials, or to create an entirely new product.

Think of ‘Repurposing’ as ‘Reuse’ on steroids, it’s the antithesis of products designed for our ‘throwaway’ society. It’s more like creating a butterfly from a caterpillar as materials extend their useful life by taking on a completely new form

Bolder Path, a Colorado manufacturer, provides an excellent example of this. They create entirely new lines of products by repurposing raw materials that have already fulfilled their original, intended purpose.  By ‘dumpster diving’ at local companies and venues, they’re able to use material from banners, billboards and other products to manufacture totes, holders, backpacks and carrying cases. Old inner tubes are reincarnated into messenger bags. Other products include neoprene sunglass cases, wallets, luggage tags, notepads, portfolios, laptop cases, and more.

This is just the beginning. These new ideas aren’t just feasible; they’re commercially viable.

Formerly unusable waste is now being recovered and diverted from the landfill into finished goods without expending the additional energy required to melt it down, grind it up, and turn it into raw material. We’re witnessing the birth of an entirely new industry, limited only by imagination and the public’s desire.

Clearly, new doors are being opened as opportunities are created for entrepreneurs who have a passion to be a part of the journey towards sustainability in areas few ever imagined possible. Repurposing is one of the 4Rs giving a long and bright future to anyone who’s ever wished ‘if only I had another opportunity.' 

It appears we have many!

Scott McKye is president of KLEERTECH, a N.A. manufacturer of event products. He has more than 25 years experience in the tradeshow and meetings industry and is a member of:

• Communication Co-Chair APEX/ASTM Green Meeting and Event Practice Panel, Standards Writing Initiative
• American Society of Association Executives (ASAE)
• International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE)
• Meeting Professional International (MPI)
• IAEE’s Committee of Environmentally Responsible Exhibitions and Events
• American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM)
• Elected to the Board of Directors for Green Meeting Industry Council
• International Society of Sustainability Professionals
• Member of the U.S. TAG (Technical Advisory Group) being formed through ASTM to work on ISO /PC 250 Sustainability in Event Management Standards
• Founding Member and Member of the Board of Directors of the Green Products Association
  

Scott is also the Communications Committee Co-Chair for GMIC’s Green Meetings & Events Practices Apex Panel. He has received Trade Show Executive magazine’s 2008 Innovator of the Year Award and has participated in several green meeting events as a featured speaker or expert panelist.