May 28, 2026
Key Points
- Stephanie Schiller shares insights in Recycling Today on how companies are addressing rising global waste through life cycle approaches.
- The article highlights how design decisions directly affect material recovery, reuse and long-term resource value.
- Schiller also explains how waste measurement and third-party certification can improve transparency and credibility in sustainability claims.
In a recent Recycling Today article, Stephanie Schiller, senior technical manager, Retail and Consumer Products at UL Solutions, examines how sustainability is increasingly being addressed through a life cycle perspective. The article answers these key questions:
Why are companies shifting toward life cycle-based sustainability approaches?
Global waste continues to grow rapidly, while recycling and recovery rates remain somewhat limited. In response, companies are expanding their focus beyond isolated improvements, such as packaging or energy use, to evaluate how materials move through sourcing, manufacturing, use and end of life. This shift reflects a need to manage material value over time rather than at a single stage.
How do specific design decisions affect material recovery and reuse?
Design determines whether materials can realistically be recovered or reused. For example, products assembled with permanent adhesives are difficult to disassemble without damaging components, while those built with screws, clips or other accessible fasteners can be taken apart more efficiently. Similarly, clearly labeled materials and standardized components enable recyclers to separate and recover usable inputs instead of generating mixed or downgraded waste streams.
What distinguishes a closed-loop approach from traditional recycling?
Closed-loop design focuses on recovering materials at the end of a product’s life and reintroducing them into the same production system. This differs from traditional recycling, where materials are often downgraded into lower-value applications. Closed-loop systems support more predictable access to recycled inputs and reduce dependence on constrained raw material supplies.
How do zero waste to landfill practices improve operational outcomes?
Zero waste to landfill frameworks require facilities to measure and track all waste outputs and classify how those materials are handled, including reuse, recycling, composting and energy recovery. By mapping waste streams in detail, organizations can identify inefficiencies in production, reduce unnecessary scrap and strengthen relationships with recovery partners. Performance is defined quantitatively, with at least 90 percent diversion required to meet baseline recognition.
Why is third-party certification critical for sustainability claims?
Sustainability claims are often broad or inconsistently defined. Third-party certification verifies these claims through defined environmental criteria, supported by testing or auditing. Programs such as ECOLOGO® extend this type of verification to a wide range of products, including industrial and energy equipment, evaluating environmental and human health performance across the full life cycle. This helps ensure claims are grounded in measurable standards and provides greater transparency for customers.
Where can I learn more?
Read the full article in Recycling Today: How smarter product life cycles strengthen sustainability and trust.
UL Solutions helps organizations advance sustainability efforts through services such as Zero Waste to Landfill Validation, ECOLOGO Certification and Recycled Content Certification, and detailed information is available at UL.com.