Resources such as energy and raw materials are essential to the manufacturing industry. Conventional plastics are almost indispensable. It is usually made from carbon compounds derived from non-renewable sources such as oil. This has a negative impact on the climate and the environment. To reduce the need for new plastics, WAGO is now using plastics made from either bio-contaminated or recycled materials. The company is taking this first step towards sustainability with its best-known product – the 221 series terminal block with levers.
A brief introduction to plastics
We encounter plastic all the time in our daily lives, and at first glance it offers a number of advantages: It is light, strong, cheap and, for the most part, easy to recycle. In Germany, however, only about a third of plastic was recycled in 2021: 35 per cent as material and 0.4 per cent as raw materials or chemicals. Energy recovery – i.e. waste incineration with a very poor carbon footprint – accounted for 64%.
Unfortunately, the longevity of plastic is having a disastrous impact not only on the climate, but also on terrestrial and marine ecosystems. In nature, plastic breaks down into microplastics, which spread uncontrollably everywhere. They can be found in even the most remote places: The concentration of microplastics in the Arctic deep sea, for example, has increased 20-fold in the last decade. New plastics are made from fossil raw materials in an energy-intensive and emissions-intensive process. Burning plastic also increases CO2 emissions. Experts estimate that by 2050, the production and incineration of plastics alone could account for around 10-13% of the global CO2 emissions needed to meet the 1.5°C climate target. So what can we do? One solution is to reduce the production of new conventional plastics and rely on alternative materials such as recycled and bio-circular plastics.
Towards more sustainable behaviour
WAGO’s goal is to connect today with tomorrow and take the first steps towards more sustainable behaviour. To this end, new plastics have been developed from post-consumer recyclate and bio-circular material. The recyclate consists mainly of recycled PET bottles that are melted down and remoulded. Bio-based waste materials from industry and households are processed into high-quality polycarbonate using a sophisticated process and then converted into bio-circular plastic. These include waste fats, residues from cooking oil production and tall oil – a natural mixture of resin acids, saturated and unsaturated fatty acids and higher alcohols that is a by-product of pulp production. This not only reduces the use of new fossil resources, but also allows existing plastic waste to be reused and the recycling cycle to continue.
New WAGO terminal block with levers Green Range
The popular 221 Series terminal block (4mm² version) is now available with Green Range levers. The proven design is combined with sustainable materials. This means that the levers (PBT) are made from a minimum of 27% post-consumer recycled material. The housing is made from up to 77% post-consumer recycled plastic. The new terminal is available in 2, 3 or 5 pole versions. The terminal can be used, for example, for wiring in junction boxes at an e-bike charging station.
The packaging is also sustainable and is made of grass paper. It contains 30% grass fibre and 70% recycled paper. The production of grass paper uses approximately 5.6% less CO2 and 11% less water than the production of pure recycled paper. The grass cuttings for the grass fibres come from compensation areas or fallow land that needs to be mowed several times a year.
WAGO’s sustainability strategy at a glance
Sustainability is firmly anchored in WAGO’s corporate strategy and has been an integral part of the company’s vision since 2022. The company, based in Minden, Germany, is committed to actively shaping the energy revolution and implementing strategies for resource-saving energy generation and use. The focus is on the CO2 balance and the CO2 footprint of products and their manufacture, in which resources are to be saved. It also aims to make the entire supply chain more sustainable and conserve resources through a circular economy. Services will also follow this strategy in the future.
Images: WAGO, Adobe Stock
