Each year, millions of counterfeit products are seized by customs authorities around the world. Traditionally, these items are destroyed through incineration or landfill, a solution that harms the environment.

Aware of this issue, the organization React launched the React Sustains initiative to explore recycling alternatives. This approach aims to transform seized goods into usable resources, thereby reducing the ecological footprint of their disposal.

The React Sustains project is based on manual disassembly carried out in secure facilities, such as the Demontage Werkplaats Zeeland (DWZ) in the Netherlands.

Once dismantled, the various components of counterfeit items are sorted and repurposed :

• Glass from perfume bottles is melted down to create new containers.
• Textiles are converted into felt or padding.
• Plastics from toys or electronics are used to manufacture new products.
• Printed circuit boards and metals are recycled and reintroduced into the industrial supply chain.

The initiative has expanded internationally to countries such as Spain, Turkey, and South Africa through partnerships with local businesses. In Turkey, counterfeit textiles are repurposed into weaving yarns, while in South Africa, granulated materials recovered from counterfeit goods are integrated into concrete mixtures, showcasing innovative ways to give a second life to otherwise illicit products.

If recycling counterfeits offers numerous environmental and economic benefits, several obstacles remain. Regulatory constraints vary by country, with some requiring on-site destruction, thus limiting recycling possibilities. Furthermore, the poor quality of materials used in these products can make repurposing difficult. Finally, logistical costs continue to be a major hurdle, particularly due to transport and dismantling processes.

Despite these challenges, React Sustains demonstrates that recycling counterfeit goods is a viable solution, reconciling intellectual property protection with environmental responsibility.