Nickel alloy recycling simultaneously benefits the environment and the industry’s economy. Non-ferrous metals like nickel are recycled for their ability to sustain durability and value even after primary product use. The infrastructure surrounding the recycling of non-ferrous metals has been around for centuries, and while the technology has changed substantially – the final result remains largely the same.

Today, roughly 68% of nickel available from primary consumer product is recycled and begins a second life cycle, 15% finds its way into the carbon steel loop, while 17% ends up in landfills as metal goods and electronic waste. It is clear that recycling is an important part of nickel’s life cycle, while also contributing to the industry’s cyclical economy.

Today we’ll discuss the ways in which nickel alloy recycling contributes to sustaining a cyclical economy.

What are cyclical economies?

Cyclical economies are a relatively new phenomenon within the realm of contemporary economics. As its name suggests, cyclical economies are regenerative by design – where every aspect of a product's life is designed to reduce energy and waste. This is true even at the end of a product’s material life through the recycling process as it re-enters the economy. Cyclical economies are in contrast to traditional linear economies, whereby products are manufactured, used, and subsequently disposed of.

What are the benefits of cyclical economies?

Cyclical economies effectively provide benefits for both the environment and industry’s economy. As products are designed for high-performance and planned re-use after primary consumer use – cyclical economies allow for economic benefits that stem from the recycling and re-processing infrastructure. Environmental benefits are realized in the reducing of the negative impact of waste and byproducts that end up in landfills.

How does nickel alloy recycling contribute to a cyclical economy?

There is no denying that recycling plays an integral role to global sustainability. Like many other non-ferrous metals, nickel is infinitely recyclable due to its ability to retain durability, strength, and anti-corrosive properties. Nickel alloy is highly valuable due to these properties, and incentivizes its recovery and reuse at the end of its product life cycle. The efficient recycling of nickel allows for the easy re-entering of the alloy to re-enter the economy at the end of its initial product life.