The Home Depot is dedicated to a circular economy, where materials are repurposed instead of being thrown away in landfills. This goes further than just reducing waste – it's about creating new chances from what might otherwise be seen as garbage.
Everyday Items Have Another Chance
Common household items are being used in The Home Depot’s circular economy projects. Plastic pots are repurposed as hanging baskets, plastic wrap is turned into deck boards, and expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam packaging is reused as insulation.
Advantages Throughout the Product Lifecycle
Circularity benefits the environment throughout a product’s lifespan. Recycled materials in product design require fewer new resources. Durable, reusable products reduce the amount of waste produced. Additionally, this approach appeals to customers looking for ways to have a positive environmental impact.
Getting Value from Difficult-to-Recycle Materials
The Home Depot’s recycling program tackles even challenging materials like:
- Metal
- Hard plastics
- Shrink wrap
- Styrofoam packaging
- Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) from appliances
What is EPS Foam?
Expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam is a commonly used packaging material, but it takes centuries to biodegrade. The Home Depot has developed a process to address this issue:
Comprehensive Recycling Efforts
The Home Depot’s market delivery operations and reverse logistics centers work together to ensure a wide range of materials are recycled, including not only the typical metals, hard plastics, and shrink wrap, but also EPS foam packaging and CFCs from old appliances.
For a deeper dive into The Home Depot’s commitment to product circularity, explore their latest ESG Report.
