RECYCLE / REUSE

We reuse packaging materials and sell second-hand items. This means that the products you order are often packed in boxes that have been used before. This helps us keep costs low and contributes to a cleaner environment. Together with you, we reduce waste and care for a better world.

Forms of Reuse

We apply various forms of reuse:

• Refilling: Refilling an empty package with a different product than the original.
• Second-hand sales: Selling used items in our online store.
• Reconditioning: Cleaning and refurbishing products to make them usable again.

Difference Between Reuse and Recycling

Recycling is the process of reusing materials by converting them into new raw materials. Reuse, on the other hand, means using a product (or parts of it) again without breaking it down into raw materials. In reuse, an item is used again, either for the same purpose or a different one.

Benefits of Recycling

• Fewer new raw materials are needed, for example, fewer trees need to be cut down for paper and cardboard.
• In the Netherlands, collected plastics are packaging materials, which are almost always recyclable thermoplastics. We use these as filler material and for sealing our boxes.
• Reduced greenhouse gas emissions, as reusing materials consumes less energy than producing them new.

History

In the 20th century, industrialized Western countries often regarded used materials as waste. This was not always the case; in the Middle Ages, rag dealers in Europe traded rags for pottery. Goods and materials were used until they were completely worn out, a practice still common in many parts of the world.

In the last quarter of the 20th century, a throwaway society emerged, causing growing waste heaps in affluent countries. Under the pressure of the environmental movement and stricter legislation, the reuse of materials began. Rising raw material prices also made reuse economically more attractive, leading to the emergence of an industry focused on reuse and recycling.

Well-known examples of reuse include the sale of second-hand products via online marketplaces and furniture made from reclaimed wood. The Netherlands is a leader in recycling paper and cardboard: 87% of collected paper and cardboard is recycled, and 89% of new paper and cardboard produced in the Netherlands consists of recycled material.