Chapter 07 · Materials & footprintsCircular Economy & Materials
Secondary raw material
Definition
A secondary raw material is material recovered from waste or used products and prepared for use as an input in new production.
References
This reference provides supporting context for how “Secondary raw material” is defined and used.
Overview
What it means in practice
Secondary raw material should be read as a materials and circular-economy term. Its meaning depends on the product, material pathway, infrastructure and evidence behind the claim.
In practice, users should state the boundary, material route, measurement method and evidence. That keeps secondary raw material clear enough to support review without turning it into a broad claim.
Why it matters
Secondary raw material matters because circularity claims can influence design, procurement, consumer understanding and reporting. Clear wording helps distinguish real material outcomes from broad environmental language.
Common misconception
A common error is to treat Secondary raw material as proof of circularity by itself. The stronger approach is to state the material route, quality, scale and final use.
Review questions
What boundary or material route is being described? What evidence supports the term? What condition, timeframe or modelling choice should be stated before a reader relies on it?
How it is used
Designers, manufacturers, procurement teams, life-cycle practitioners and waste managers use “Secondary raw material” in product design, procurement, footprinting, material selection, production and end-of-life decisions.
In each case, the user should state the product system, life-cycle stages, functional unit, geography, timeframe and measurement method; otherwise, the same term may be applied to materially different situations. In this context, it refers to material recovered from waste or used products and prepared for use as an input in new production.