Sustainability strategies often focus on what businesses should buy next, such as electric vehicles, energy-efficient machinery or renewable energy systems. But there is another practical way to reduce environmental impact: making better use of the assets that already exist.
In a recent article for Duurzaam Ondernemen, Volker Hoentsch, ESG Director at TBAuctions, explains why the reuse of industrial assets deserves a more prominent place in companies’ climate strategies.
Machines, vehicles and equipment often leave a business long before reaching the end of their technical lifespan. When these assets are sold instead of stored, scrapped or recycled, their materials and the energy used to produce them remain in circulation for longer. At the same time, another business may no longer need to purchase a newly manufactured alternative.
Your role in giving assets a second life
As a seller, you play an important role in making this possible. By offering assets you no longer need, you can recover their remaining financial value while helping to reduce waste, pressure on raw materials and emissions from new production.
The scale of this impact is significant. In 2025, almost 600,000 assets found a new owner through Troostwijk Auctions. These second-hand purchases helped avoid an estimated 510,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions. Assets were reused across a wide range of industries, including construction, transport and logistics, and metalworking.
The article also highlights a practical change businesses can make. Resale should be considered before an asset is seen as waste. Recycling remains important, but keeping a complete machine, vehicle or tool in use preserves more of the materials and energy already invested in it.
Every asset given a second life is part of a bigger circular movement. For sellers, this means that selling surplus equipment is not only a smart commercial decision. It can also support wider sustainability goals and contribute to a more efficient use of valuable resources.
Want to learn more? Read the full article by Volker Hoentsch on Duurzaam Ondernemen.