The Role of Circular Economy in Sustainable Material Handling

The circular economy model involves keeping materials and products in use for as long as possible through options such as recycling, repair, refurbishment and proper maintenance. How can people apply it to make material handling more sustainable?

Choose Used Machinery When Possible

One option is to extend the life of material handling machines by selling them as used items. The process varies by the machinery provider, but companies often have stringent checklists to go through before selling each machine on a used marketplace.

Pursuing that option brings many advantages. For example, the purchaser can usually get the machine they need at a lower price than buying it new. Additionally, machine owners who sell their assets on used marketplaces can profit from the sale, which does not happen when equipment is discarded.

A 2024 European report on the state of the materials handling market also identified an emerging trend — people request “blended” lift truck fleets to meet their needs. In such cases, customers request a combination of new and used equipment to meet their needs. That is one example of how clients can embrace the circular economy even without purchasing wholly used items.

Prioritize Equipment Made From Recycled Materials

Another possibility is to buy machines made from recycled materials. That option prevents valuable materials from getting discarded, strengthening their associated supply chains by reducing scarcity risks.

One French material handling equipment manufacturer has collaborated with a supply chain partner to source fossil-free steel for its machines. The supplier’s process involves relying on hydrogen gas made from fossil-free electricity when making hot briquetted iron as a raw material in steel. This alternative results in steelmaking being a virtually emissions-free activity, supporting companies’ sustainability and circular economy goals.

Decision-makers interested in such recyclability in material handling machines should take time to learn about all the available options, especially since this is a relatively newer sustainable choice. Besides examining all the material-related specifications, potential purchasers should verify that the machines have other characteristics to meet their material handling needs.

Select High-Quality Items and Take Care of Them

People can participate in the circular economy by following maintenance-related best practices, too. A good starting point is to always follow the manufacturer’s guidance, but consider adapting them based on average usage hours, the operating environment and other factors specific to the individual facilities using the equipment.

It is also wise to purchase good-quality material handling equipment and accessories so that they will likely last as long as possible when maintained well. For example, hoist rings create secure attachment points for overhead lifting systems such as cranes or slings. Some options are 200% proof-load tested, reassuring users that they will safely bear the rated loads without breakage or deformation.

Adopting the habit of checking all material handling equipment and accessories before and after each use helps people quickly spot any abnormalities they must address through maintenance or repairs. Then, they can participate in the circular economy without risking safety.

Establish Predictive Maintenance Strategies

A once-common approach to maintenance and repairs was to only deal with machine-related issues when they were too severe to keep ignoring. However, by that point, the problems may be so significant that repairing them is impossible or prohibitively costly. A better option is to use smart sensors that can flag potentially unusual characteristics before humans notice them.

In addition to being a sustainable solution, predictive maintenance can be a major cost saver. One study of manufacturers and other industrial companies found downtime costs $532,000 per hour, making it essential to shorten those periods whenever possible.

Ideally, predictive maintenance programs will allow people to become aware of issues so quickly that downtime is rare and almost always brief. Knowing what is wrong with a material handling machine before it fails gives technicians time to order parts, get the equipment vendor’s advice or take other actions to prevent unplanned outages. Such outcomes are more sustainable than their counterparts because they allow machine owners to carefully think through the options rather than potentially paying more money to get urgent services or sourcing parts from distant locations.

Participate in the Circular Economy

These examples show how straightforward it can be for business professionals to take part in the circular economy by making more thoughtful decisions about their material handling equipment. Gradual progress in this area could encourage peers to follow suit.