The way we deal with products and materials is fundamentally changing. The traditional linear model of "take-make-dispose" is no longer viable in a world facing climate challenges and resource scarcity. At ABB, circular economy principles are embedded in our DNA, guiding every decision from initial product design to manufacturing operations and end-of-life management.
A COMMITMENT ANCHORED IN STRATEGY
<p>At ABB, we are on a mission to help industries outperform or, as we say, “outrun – leaner and cleaner”. As a global leader in electrification and automation, our purpose is to enable a more sustainable and resource-efficient future. As part of the ABB Sustainability Agenda, we have set an ambitious target: by 2030, approximately 80% of our product portfolio will be covered by our circularity framework, ensuring that products are developed from the outset to be more resource‑efficient, durable, reusable, and traceable throughout their entire life cycle. </p> <p>ABB's commitment to circularity is to deliver tangible results across our global operations. This commitment extends across all ABB business areas. In 2021, ABB introduced a comprehensive circularity framework covering every stage of the product lifecycle: design and sourcing, production and packaging, optimizing the use phase, and end‑of‑life management. Progress is measured against a set of key performance indicators, ensuring accountability and continuous improvement.</p>
ABB HIGHLIGHTS:
- 98% of electricity sourced from renewables in 2025
- 79% reduction in Scope 1 & 2 emissions in 2025 v. 2019 baseline
- 81% percent of waste recycled from operations in 2025, with only 5.3 percent of waste sent to landfill and 4.1 percent to energy
DESIGN FOR CIRCULARITY: BUILDING SUSTAINABILITY FROM THE START
Environmental aspects, material efficiency, and reusability are integrated from the design stage. This includes modular components, design principles that facilitate repairs, and resource-saving materials. ABB's approach follows the EN45555 standard for material efficiency, with many products achieving recyclability rates of 90% or higher.
Recycled and biobased materials: closing the loop
ABB is pioneering the use of sustainable materials across its product portfolio. With recycled and biobased, International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC)-certified plastics, we reduce CO₂ emissions and conserve natural resources. This approach not only minimizes environmental impact but also supports our customers in achieving their own sustainability goals.
<p><b>ABB EcoSolutions™: transparency through verification</b></p> <p>ABB EcoSolutions™ is our environmental transparency initiative that provides verified data on the environmental impact of our products throughout their entire life cycle. Products in this portfolio come with Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) and Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs), independently verified by external certification bodies according to ISO 14025 standards. These products also meet ABB-established circularity criteria across all applicable stages of the product lifecycle.</p> <p>EPDs describe the environmental impact of a product from cradle to grave, based on comprehensive lifecycle assessments. They provide customers with transparent information to make informed, more sustainable purchasing decisions. ABB has developed EPDs for a growing range of products, including low-voltage motors, drives, and electrical installation products.</p> <p>The ABB EcoSolutions™ QR code provides customers with immediate access to verified environmental data, demonstrating that products meet key performance indicators defined in ABB's circularity framework.</p>
<p><b>Mission to Zero: transforming our operations</b></p> <p>Mission to Zero is ABB's initiative to achieve net-zero operational emissions in our manufacturing facilities worldwide. Through continuous innovation, we are driving energy and resource efficiency across all our global sites.</p> <p>Our Lüdenscheid, Germany factory exemplifies this approach: combining photovoltaics, energy storage, and intelligent distribution systems, it operates virtually CO₂-neutral and saves around 630 tons of CO₂ annually. This model is being replicated at plants worldwide, with each site adapted to local conditions and enhanced by closed-loop production processes.</p> <p>The initiative encompasses multiple strategies:</p> <ul> <li>Electrification: Switching to electrification such as replacing fossil-fuel fired systems and implementing EV charging infrastructure</li> <li>Renewable energy: Installing photovoltaic systems and sourcing 100% renewable electricity (RE100 commitment)</li> <li>Energy efficiency and process optimization: Implementing EP100 energy efficiency measures across all operations</li> <li>Waste reduction: Achieving zero waste to landfill by 2030 through recycling, reuse, and energy recovery validated by UL2799 or other third-party auditable verification</li> </ul>
<p><b>Take-back, refurbishment, and recycling: extending product life</b></p> <p>ABB offers take-back, recycling, and refurbishment programs for electrification equipment, including circuit breakers, switchgear, and low- and medium-voltage components. These programs ensure that products continue to deliver value even after their initial use phase:</p> <p>Through cooperation with recycling partners, ABB supports industry customers in sending drives and PLCs (Programmable Logic Controllers) at the end of their lifecycle to be recycled and upcycled into new products. This circular approach not only conserves resources but also reduces the environmental impact of new manufacturing products. Refurbishment and modernization services extend product lifetime through preventive maintenance, digital condition monitoring, and technology upgrades - keeping equipment running efficiently while avoiding the environmental cost of premature replacement.</p>
CERTIFIED SUSTAINABLE, DEMONSTRABLY Circular
<p>ABB's sustainable and circular practices are regularly verified by independent, recognized institutes, ensuring we meet high environmental standards across the board.</p> <p> </p> <p><b>Cradle to Cradle Certification</b></p> <p>Cradle to Cradle evaluates products according to criteria such as material health, recyclability, use of renewable energies, and social fairness. In 2019, ABB became the first switch manufacturer in the world to introduce a Cradle to Cradle certified switch range. Today, over 60% of the designs are certified.</p> <p>This certification demonstrates that products are designed for continuous cycles of use and reuse, with materials that can be safely returned to the environment or industrial systems.</p> <p> </p> <p><b>ISCC Certification</b></p> <p>ISCC (International Sustainability and Carbon Certification) ensures that bio-based raw materials are obtained sustainably and remain traceable along the entire value chain. ABB Electrification incorporates biocircular ISCC-certified materials in several product lines, including switch ranges.</p> <p> </p> <p>Several ABB Electrification production facilities are also ISCC-certified, ensuring that sustainability is anchored not only in the end product but throughout the entire manufacturing process. This chain-of-custody approach guarantees the integrity of sustainable materials from source to finished product across ABB's electrification portfolio. </p>