Recycled Materials are Essential to Everyday Life

It is nearly impossible to go a day - or even an hour - without touching something made with recycled materials.

Think about it.

The car you drive, the wires that power your home, the boxes that hold your deliveries, the phone or computer you're reading right now - these are all made possible thanks to recycled materials.

That's why the Recycled Materials Association (ReMA) is celebrating Global Recycling Day by highlighting the recyclers who strengthen manufacturing, drive economic growth, and create a sustainable future.

Created in 2018, Global Recycling Day celebrates the important role recycling plays in preserving primary resources and securing the future of the planet. It is a day for the world to come together and put the planet first-and ReMA has been a proud supporter every year since its inception.

ReMA members serve manufacturers across virtually every sector-automotive, appliances, construction, technology, packaging, and infrastructure. In the automotive industry alone, two thirds of the average car is made with recycled materials, from the steel in the body, to the aluminum in the engine.

Sourcing high-quality recycled materials means lower energy consumption and can reduce greenhouse emissions by up to 96% compared to primary material. Because these materials don't need to be mined, drilled, or otherwise extracted from the earth, this also means less strain on natural resources. And because the industry is committed to engaging in responsible and transparent production practices, manufacturers can meet consumers' rising expectations to understand what goes into the products they use.

Recyclers are always looking for ways to recycle more materials, more effectively. For example, recyclers are using new technologies and AI to help sort materials and get the highest quality materials possible to manufacturers. The industry also partners with manufacturers and consumer brands to support them in designing products that are easier to recycle.

When consumers see recycled materials in the products they use-from the car they drive to the bridges they cross-they gain a better understanding of why recycling matters. That commitment creates the incentive for continued growth and investment.

On Global Recycling Day and every day, the work of the recycled materials industry is integral to the manufacturing supply chain, economy, and daily life. The recycled materials industry supplies high-quality, renewable resources for everything from essential national infrastructure to consumer products.