REnato: Lab for the circular economy
As the concept of the circular economy has taken off, firms that help companies make the most of it have come into being. Established in 2014, REnato lab takes its name from the English “re” plus the Italian word for “born.” The name represents how the company is using circular economic methods to bring value to seemingly worthless waste products.
Founder Jackie Wang used to be employed at China Technical Consultants, where he worked with government to draw up environmental and energy policies. He discovered that although those policies could impact industry, they didn’t increase the willingness of consumers to purchase environmental products. Hence, he decided he needed to create comprehensive change from the ground up. Early on, REnato lab mainly focused on making products from waste, such as by turning old tires into chairs. But later Wang realized that there was simply too much waste. “If all of Taiwan’s recycled glass was turned into drinking glasses, every person on the island could have 76 of them each year!” So he decided that instead of focusing on helping industry turn its waste into products, it would be better to tackle the problem at the front end, by reducing the amount of waste created. He thus turned REnato into a consulting firm.
Apart from helping individual companies assess their production of waste, REnato lab also fosters connections among companies, bringing together those involved in waste management and in transforming waste into raw materials, with finished goods producers and sales channels. Only with these connections is it possible to design products for the circular economy. In addition to consulting about products, another service it offers is assisting companies to adjust their commercial models to the circular economy. For instance, it helped Acer establish collection points for old electronic products and batteries at 7-Elevens throughout Taiwan, making recycling easy for consumers.
Although it has transformed into a consultancy, REnato lab still handles product design work. It has even established a library of materials that allows designers to get a true feel for materials so they can better produce suitable products. “Our laboratories are other people’s factories.” Wang says that REnato lab defines itself as “a laboratory for the circular economy” that tries to make products out of customers’ materials. Afterwards, if the customer is willing, it can get these products rolling off the production line just a few days later.
But REnato lab wants to have an impact on the public too. At the “Future Is Now” exhibition at the Huashan 1914 Creative Park last year, REnato provided the public with various ways to learn how life could play out in a circular economy. The exhibition also overturned some widely held myths about products designed for the circular economy—namely that they aren’t beautiful or durable.
“Environmental education ought to provide consumers with understanding based on experience—understanding that engenders support for environmentalism.” Wang believes that dogma only leads to rules, whereas real change comes from true understanding.
Enrestec uses pyrolysis technology to turn scrap tires into high-value “carbon black,” which can be reused in industrial products.