Recycling

We consider it our corporate duty to protect the environment and conserve resources - especially as a company that processes plastics. Therefore, one of our company goals is CO₂-neutral and zero plastic waste. To achieve this goal, igus pursues various strategies:

Mechanical recycling

One way to recycle plastics is mechanical recycling, also known as material recycling. The aim of this method is the recovery or reuse of plastics without changing the chemical structure of the material. The plastics are separated by type, shredded, melted down and turned into recyclate. New plastic products are then manufactured from the recyclate.

chainge recycling platform

With chainge, we have launched a recycling platform that makes the recycling of technical and industrial plastics particularly easy and thus supports the circular economy. On our platform, you can have plastics recycled from both igus products and products from other manufacturers. You also have the opportunity to buy and sell recyclates on our marketplace. The platform is rounded off by our network, which you can join as a recycling partner. Become a chainger now!

To the chainge platform

Our igus:bike made from recycled plastic

New bikes for a new era: with our igus:bike and the igus:bike platform, we want to promote sustainable urban mobility. Our bicycle consists of over 90% plastic, which is mostly recycled plastic waste. It is not only robust and durable, but also good for the environment as it is low-maintenance, corrosion-resistant and requires no additional lubrication. With the platform, we show the current state of the art and help bicycle and component manufacturers network and exchange information with each other. Want to find out more?

To the igus:bike platform

cirplus - a marketplace for standard recyclates

With chainge, we offer a recycling platform for technical and industrial plastics. We have invested in the Hamburg-based start-up cirplus to supplement our product range and close the plastics cycle a little further. At this marketplace, disposal companies, recyclers and product manufacturers can buy standardised recyclates from all over the world safely, traceably and at little cost. To this end, cirplus has also initiated the world's first high-quality plastics recycling standards: DIN SPEC 91446 and DIN SPEC 91481.

More about cooperation with cirplus

Chemical recycling

Chemical recycling is another type of plastic recycling, which is often referred to as raw-material recycling. As the name suggests, the chemical structure of the material is changed. The plastics are broken down into their original raw materials, which can then be reused for different purposes.

HydroPRS: Hydrothermal Plastic Recycling Solution

In 2020, igus invested in the company Mura Technology Limited, which uses a new technology for recycling plastics: Hydrothermal Plastic Recycling Solution, or HydroPRS for short. This can convert unsorted plastic waste into crude oil within 30 minutes. The whole process uses water, high temperatures and pressure to conserve resources. The first industrial site in Teesside, UK, will be commissioned in 2024.

More about HydroPRS

Further recycling measures

When it comes to recycling, we don't just want to restrict ourselves to our main material, plastic. We are also pushing ahead other measures to ensure that our production is as environmentally friendly and sustainable as possible.

reguse®: recycling of discarded electrical appliances

With a company as large as igus, you can't avoid disposing of devices, which become electronic waste. Unfortunately, this amounts to 5 tonnes per year - at least, it did until 2019. Our trainees then took up the issue and started their own trainee company with reguse. Here, electrical appliances that are still in working order, such as laptops, PCs and monitors, are reconditioned and sold to igus employees at little cost, or donated to schools and associations. The proceeds are used for sustainable projects.

Find out more about reguse®

Products made from recycled materials

cradle chain: the first energy chain made from recycled material

Our chainge program recycles mostly energy chains, from which the new material igumid CG is created. We use this to produce our first energy chain made from recycled material: the cradle e-chain E2.1.CG.

More about the cradle chain

PRT slewing ring bearing made from regranulate

PRT slewing ring bearing with regranulate content of at least 97%

We use regranulates from our own production in our iglidur PRT-02-30-ECO slewing ring bearing. The materials selected here, iglidur P4 and iglidur M260, work very well together and produce a long service life.

drylin linear bearings made of eco-materials

The new linear bearing offers you two sustainable advantages: the housing is made of 100% recycled igus polymer P4 and the liners consist of iglidur J4 with high recycling material content.

More about the drylin eco linear bearing

Ball bearings made of regranulate

Our new material xirodur ECO B180 consists of raw materials that have already been used, such as sprue from injection moulding. These are re-processed into plastic granulate in-house, which is then used to produce ECO all-rounders in green in the next step. The All-rounders consist of a recycled inner and outer race made from coloured xirodur B180 and a cage consisting of recycled iglidur material.

More about the xiros ECO ball bearing

drylin econ carriage for curved rail made from 100% recycled material

The drylin econ series is a ready-to-install entry-level series for simple positioning and adjustment tasks. The polymer carriage for curved rail consists of 100% recycled material.

More about the econ carriage for curved rail

Country/Region

By selecting your country you will be shown local offers and information.

Please choose your delivery location