UBS Widens Sustainability Label

Like many good things in life, wind turbines don’t last forever. But disposing of retired turbine blades has become a headache for the renewable energy industry. They’re made of materials that can’t easily be recycled.  But from cycle shelters to bridges, life-expired blades are finding innovative new uses around the world. And the first 100% recyclable turbine blades have just been produced in Denmark.  Up to 85% of an existing wind turbine, including the steel mast and electrical components made of metals like copper, can be recycled, but not the turbine blades, which already account for 10% of Europe’s fibre-reinforced composite material waste.

In this article, John Jackson discusses the importance and value of creating a green circular economy, bringing attention to how businesses may need to consider adapting current processes into becoming more environmentally friendly. As well as this, John introduces the use of recycled or reconditioned products and materials as a considerable method that could significantly contribute towards a business’s decarbonisation strategy. The transition to become a net zero carbon nation is undoubtedly one of the biggest challenges facing the business community in Wales. It is the ultimate game changer, and to achieve it will mean that across all aspects of our built environment new approaches to our activities will need to be adopted. Decarbonisation will be on the agenda for many businesses and organisations across Wales, and will increasingly be moving up it as the need to change becomes increasingly apparent.