From the linear to the circular economy
"Take, use, throw away" - this still very common approach is proving to be a one-way street. Traditional linear economics assumes that raw materials are available in unlimited quantities. The opposite is the case. A rethink is therefore required towards a cycle-oriented economy and behaviour. Its principle is to conserve resources and minimise waste and pollution by using products and materials for as long as possible and reusing or recycling them in an environmentally friendly way.
The construction industry plays a key role in conserving resources. The action plan for the circular economy as part of the EU Green Deal therefore focuses on the recycling of construction and demolition waste. It also calls for the lifespan of buildings to be increased. In order to fulfil the requirements of a life cycle-based "Design of Sustainability", KEIM is taking the path from linear to circular action.
Circular economy at KEIM
Use of recyclate containers
Around 90% of KEIM containers have been converted to post-consumer recyclate (PCR) in recent years. The plastic recyclates for paint buckets are usually obtained from household or commercial collections. The waste is sorted, washed and processed into granulate, which is then used as a raw material for new packaging. Due to the varying colour composition of the collected plastic waste, the buckets are produced in a grey shade. For reasons of sustainability and in the spirit of the circular economy, KEIM has decided not to colour the PCR buckets in KEIM's characteristic red. However, to ensure brand identity, the majority of the surface - apart from the edge of the bucket - is covered by brand-specific IML (in-mould labelling). KEIM's recyclate containers can be recognised by the grey rim of the bucket. And by the way: our PCR containers not only save resources, but also the climate: according to the manufacturer, depending on the size of the container, between 0.3 and 0.4 kg of CO2 can be saved per bucket if the container has a volume of 12.5 litres.
Material efficiency and recycling
KEIM is setting revolutionary standards for recyclable construction and renovation with a new clay-lime interior plaster. Thanks to a special binder formulation, it can be removed from the wall together with the colour coat if necessary and reused as recycled plaster.
Extending the useful life of buildings and structures
If you take a close look at the life cycle costs of a building, it becomes clear that around 80 % of cost, is spent during the buildings ‘use’ phase, (including maintenance and repair). Therefore, when selecting building materials, the focus should be on value and quality stability over the entire service life of a building. Colour is not only an important design feature in architecture. Above all, it protects the building fabric and thus has a major influence on the service life of buildings. This makes the choice of coating system a key factor. KEIM mineral paints prove to be real savings models in terms of resources and costs.
The optimum combination of liquid potassium silicate as a binder, mineral fillers from natural sources and inorganic colour pigments ensure maximum weather resistance and unsurpassed durability of the silicate paints. Even hundred-year-old coatings are not uncommon with KEIM.
