Championing Sustainability:
REM’s Commitment to the Circular Economy

The world has grown keenly aware of society’s impact on the environment, leading to a huge push for eco-conscious thinking and sustainable practices. Making a positive change through actions like sustainability works best when they start at the top, which is why it’s so important that companies get on board to help our planet.

At REM, we’re doing everything we can to champion sustainability through our actions, which includes harnessing the power of the circular economy. By adopting a comprehensive approach to sustainability, we have developed a greener business model that shows that environmental responsibility can coexist with corporate success. So, in this article, we’re going to look at how REM Earth’s commitment to the circular economy isn’t just good for the environment – it’s good for business, too.

What is the Circular Economy?

At its core, the Circular Economy is an alternative to the traditional linear economic model, which is often summarised as “take, make, dispose.” This outdated model relies heavily on the large-scale consumption of finite resources, leading to unsustainable environmental impacts. In contrast, the circular economy promotes the elimination of waste through the continual use of resources.

This model designs out waste and pollution, keeps products and materials in use, and regenerates natural systems. It emphasises a transition to renewable energy sources, advocates for the longer lifespan of products through reuse and repair, and upholds the use of recycling to recover valuable materials for new production cycles. By focusing on these principles, the circular economy – and those who adopt it – protects the environment while also enhancing economic stability and creating new opportunities for growth in a sustainable manner.

How REM is Supporting the Circular Economy

At REM, eco-conscious thinking has been a foundation for our business. Our green journey is all-encompassing and bleeds into the products we make, our supply chains and even our day-to-day activities. Our approach addresses key areas like product design, materials, production processes, packaging, and logistics. By embedding these principles into every facet of our operations, REM is not only reducing its ecological footprint but also setting a benchmark for sustainability in its industry.

Sustainable Design

At REM, we have rethought our product design strategies so that they are inherently sustainable. So, when you purchase hair salon products or other inventory from us, you’re directly supporting an eco-friendly approach to consumerism.

We’ve approached sustainable design in a few different ways, such as using multifunctional parts and components that work across different products. This is useful as it simplifies the recycling process and reduces manufacturing waste and complexity. We purposefully choose materials that are sustainable, recyclable and align with global sustainability standards. What’s more, we’ve been thoughtful about the ease of assembly for our products, ensuring that energy consumption is kept to a minimum during the manufacturing stage. This helps to lower our overall energy footprint.

Sustainable Materials

The sourcing of materials is a significant area where we have direct control over at REM Earth. As we get to make the decisions about which materials we use – and where we get them – we ensure that the materials we use align with our sustainability agenda. Our priority here is to focus on eco-friendly materials while considering their environmental impact at the point of purchase. We also aim to use local suppliers to source our materials, which in turn helps lower our carbon footprint. As a guide, you can take a look at our carbon calculator to see what kind of a difference this approach makes.

By placing a strong focus on using sustainable materials throughout our supply chain, we can encourage our suppliers to think similarly. By using local suppliers, we cut down on transportation emissions for our materials. By insisting on sustainable, eco-friendly materials, we encourage our suppliers to switch to more eco-friendly options. In doing so, we can ensure that every aspect of our products are contributing to a healthier planet. We believe that these practices not only support local economies but also build a robust, sustainability-oriented supply chain.

Sustainable Production

In its production facilities, REM employs lean manufacturing processes aligned with the 3 S’s principles: sort, standardise, and sustain. These principles help in minimising waste and enhancing efficiency at every step of the production process. This also bleeds into our products, which are built with durability in mind to ensure a long lifespan. We also design products so that they can be easily maintained and repaired, which helps support the circular economy.

Energy efficiency is also a priority for us, managed through the strategic use of LED lighting and diligent operational practices such as turning off equipment when not in use. Moreover, our use of advanced CNC nesting and programming optimises material use and reduces scrap in weekly production cycles.

Sustainable Packaging

Packaging – particularly plastic packaging – is a huge problem for the environment and actively goes against our sustainability efforts at REM Earth. That is why our commitment to the circular economy extends into our packaging practices. We aim to minimise packaging materials and eliminate non-recyclable components like single-use plastics. This approach actively encourages the reuse of packaging and cartons, which are returned to the factory after delivery.

By purchasing recycled and Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified cartons from local suppliers, we directly support sustainable

Sustainable Delivery

The delivery and logistics of our products also reflect our commitment to sustainability. We have transitioned to an all-electric fleet of company cars and ensure that all of our larger vehicles are Euro 6 compliant, meeting high environmental standards. Furthermore, we optimise our delivery routes every week to reduce mileage and, consequently, fuel consumption. This helps to keep costs low while also dropping our carbon emissions.

Using the Circular Economy to Improve Our Planet

At REM, we are incredibly proud of our comprehensive approach to integrating Circular Economy principles. It is something that is integrated into our business model and demonstrates a powerful commitment to sustainability. By focusing on Sustainable Design, materials, production, packaging, and delivery, we are not looking to reduce our environmental impact and also create a new path for other companies to follow. Through these efforts, we hope to prove that business success and environmental stewardship can go hand in hand, paving the way towards a more sustainable future.