A report commissioned by Colorado’s Circular Economy Development Center (CEDC) evaluated the landscape of Colorado’s manufacturing base and identified specific materials and industries that are ripe for further development of circular solutions. The “End Market Opportunity Assessment” released in July lists textiles, tires, plastics and wood as top material to focus on.
“The assessment confirmed many of the opportunities the CEDC began to work on from the start and added a lot of breadth and depth to our focus areas,” said CEDC Director Laurie Johnson. “For example, we knew textiles were a problem material, but we did not know to what extent or what solutions might begin to make an impact in recovery of textile waste.”
The project screened a total of 26 different materials to help identify targeted commodities for end-market development. Textiles, plastics, tires and wood rose to the top, and the assessment provided suggestions for how the CEDC could help make an impact.
According to the report, the CEDC could bolster regional reuse of textiles through partnerships with existing and emerging businesses in the state. Even though Colorado has existing drop-off infrastructure to collect and reuse a portion of the state’s postconsumer textiles, thousands of tons are still landfilled each year. For plastics, specifically colored high-density polyethylene (C-HDPE), assistance from the CEDC would be beneficial because there is potential to create an economically viable end market in Colorado. Tires are already collected in the state and there are multiple opportunities to expand how these tires are incorporated into circular products including rubber modified asphalt and rubber modified concrete, sectors the CEDC is already engaged in developing.
“The assessment sheds light on the great work that is already happening in Colorado while highlighting many exciting opportunities to develop additional closed-loop systems,” said Susan Renaud, director of special projects for the CEDC. “This creates fertile ground for innovative businesses to grow and create additional employment for our local workforce.”