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Partnering together for a circular economy: ABB Large Motors and Generators Sweden & Stena Recycling
While not all waste can be given a second life, Stefan argues manufacturers can and should implement responsible disposal methods to minimise their impact on the environment.
ABB’ s IEC LV Motors site, Shanghai, China Stefan believes there’ s a blind spot in the motor industry when it comes to packaging waste.
“ Wooden boxes, used to transport nails, have been the go-to choice, despite posing safety risks and creating challenges for recycling the packaging,” he explains.
These boxes are also difficult to disassemble, resulting in them often becoming damaged and non-reusable – but disposing of them incurs extra costs for manufacturers.
ABB is addressing this problem through innovation at its Shanghai site, where wooden crates have been redesigned to suit customer needs without compromising efficiency.
“ Sceptics might argue that upgrades such as this one are more trouble than they’ re worth, hurting profitability and making only a marginal environmental impact,” says Stefan.
“ But these changes didn’ t just improve sustainability, they made operations more cost-effective by boosting efficiency and reducing material losses.”
72 May 2025