At Seco, circularity is about rethinking every aspect of what engineers do — how to create, retain and recover value to transform manufacturing for a sustainable future.

A holistic approach to circularity
For Seco, circularity is integral to all aspects of the business. It drives engineers to rethink not only product design and manufacturing, but also business models and customer value. “Circularity pushes us to explore innovative solutions across our entire value chain,” said Malvina Roci, circularity manager at Seco. “We’re deepening our understanding of circular opportunities, from exploring new business models and collaborating with our supply chain to extending product life, optimizing resource use and ensuring efficient resource recovery.”

Source: Seco Tools

Beyond recycling — Designing for longevity and reuse

While recycling plays a crucial role in circularity, it is only one piece of the puzzle. Seco focuses on designing products that are durable, easy to repair, refurbish and recondition. Prioritizing recycled and recyclable materials allows sustainability to be embedded at the early design stage.

Maximizing product use and efficiency
Designing products with circularity in mind is essential, but Seco goes further by collaborating closely with customers and partners to maximize product value. With deep engineering expertise, the company helps customers optimize their processes and get the most out of every tool. Through value retention strategies such as repair and reconditioning, Seco extends product lifecycles and ensures they undergo multiple use cycles before recovering valuable raw materials. Reconditioning services not only help customers reduce their environmental impact but also deliver significant cost savings by enhancing the longevity of each tool.

Traceability for smarter circularity
Traceability of products and materials throughout the manufacturing value chain is crucial for realizing circularity ambitions. Seco has introduced data matrix codes on inserts and round tools to enhance traceability. “Traceability plays a key role in reducing underutilized tool capacity and optimizing tool longevity,” said Malvina Roci. “It enables us and our customers to make informed decisions, such as determining the optimal cutting data or knowing when to recondition tools.”

Driving circularity across the value chain
Seco’s circularity goals are ambitious but necessary to inspire industry transformation. The aim: achieve 90% circularity in products, packaging and waste by 2030. This involves integrating circular principles into operations and working with customers and suppliers to drive industry-wide change.

“Circularity is not just an environmental necessity — it’s a fundamental shift in manufacturing,” said Malvina Roci. “By rethinking how we design, use, and recover materials, we are building a more sustainable future.”