We recognize the impact of discarded wood wall panel products, which too frequently find their way into landfills or incinerators when commercial buildings undergo renovations. Adding to the challenge, commercial interiors are often renovated every 5–10 years, which may result in our wood wall panels being discarded long before the end of their useful life. We find this wasteful, particularly since most wood products manufacturers offer little to no guidance on products at the end-of-life stage.
“We believe in the power of the circular economy and are committed to giving our products a second chance to bring the benefits of biophilic design to new spaces,” said Emma Kiel, Sustainability Director at Urban Evolutions.
The UE Takeback Reuse Program is a proactive initiative to divert our wood wall panel products from landfills. Leveraging our extensive network of reuse centers across the country, we identify panels in good condition and relocate them to qualified reuse centers near removal sites.
Manufacturer takeback programs have been established for some time, yet only a few companies have successfully implemented this concept. Moreover, many recycling programs have limited capacity and involve carbon-intensive processes. Current takeback programs, focused on recycling, may be missing the mark on maximizing diversion. Instead, our program focuses on first promoting the reuse of our panels, rather than recycling or remanufacturing. This approach prevents panels from contributing to landfill waste and ensures they remain in a regional circular economy, providing an affordable reuse option for local businesses and homeowners.
“As the reuse marketplace grows, takeback programs must take advantage of these local resources to divert landfill waste,” said Kiel.
The UE Takeback Reuse Program offers many benefits in growing engineered wood’s place in the circular economy, including:
“We are excited to offer this innovative approach to reuse and takeback programs so our products can continue to beautify and promote biophilia in their next life,” said Kiel.