221 Series Green Range

WAGO Splicing Connector with Levers – Green Range

Nothing is too small to positively impact our environment. Therefore, we have reimagined one of our best-known products: the 221 Series Splicing Connector.

A variant made partially from bio-circular and recycled plastics has been created to help keep existing resources in circulation. This connector provides a more sustainable foundation for the installation from the very start.

Your Benefits:

  • Plastics made in part from post-consumer recycled material (e.g., recycled PET bottles) and bio-based industrial and household waste (bio-circular)
  • Reduced consumption of fossil resources by keeping existing resources in circulation
  • Same quality and certifications as the 221 Series Splicing Connector

Sustainability Has Many Levers – Mission Green Range

As an industrial manufacturing company, we rely on many resources, including energy and raw materials like plastics. Traditional plastics are derived from carbon compounds found in oil and natural gas – non-renewable resources that contribute to climate change and environmental pollution.

To reduce our dependence on newly produced plastics, we have redesigned one of our most popular products. For the past year, the 221 Series Splicing Connector with levers has been available in a new version made from partially bio-circular and recycled plastics (see FAQ). We named it the WAGO Green Range Splicing Connector with Levers. This connector is a key step towards sustainable development, as every significant change begins with the first small step.

Mission Green Range – What Do We Want to Achieve?

In early 2022, the WAGO Green Range Splicing Connector with Levers started its journey through our company’s “Kickbox” innovation program. The result was the introduction of a connector made of partially recycled and bio-circular plastics. After just one year on the market, we want to think further. Through the Green Range Mission, we demonstrate our commitment to continuously working towards more sustainable materials to reduce our environmental impact.

Our mission is to identify and set in motion the levers for a sustainable and resource-conserving product design. However, not everything can be implemented immediately – it’s an ongoing process. Sustainability has many levers. We are gradually learning how to utilize them more effectively, because we firmly believe that this is the future!

Products at a Glance

The Path to Greater Sustainability

1 Year of the Green Range: Key Insights and Learnings

The Green Range Splicing Connector with Levers marks its first anniversary! This milestone provides an excellent opportunity to look back and reflect. What progress has the Green Range made over the past year, and what valuable lessons have we gained?

  • We have learned that sustainability is complex and also entails new challenges and demands for all participants, leading to many questions. We want to tackle these together and support you in doing so.
  • We have conducted a life cycle analysis (LCA) to evaluate the environmental impacts of our product. This analysis aimed to determine how we could further improve the 221 Series Green Range and understand the environmental factors involved.
  • Our goal was to assess the impact of keeping raw materials in circulation and recycling them. This is precisely what we do with the partially recycled and bio-circular plastics used in the 221 Series Green Range.

 

  • Previously, the savings in CO2 emissions were only available at the single plastic level. With the LCA, we found that we save about 40% CO2 emissions on the plastic level compared to the classic 221 Series Splicing Connector with levers.
  • Additionally, copper and spring steel contribute significantly to the remaining CO2 emissions. In this regard, the key factor is the recycling percentage during melting. The metals we use already come from sources using the highest possible percentage of recycled materials while achieving the same quality standard. The supplier industry is continuously working to reduce CO2 emissions through recycling and energy-efficient processes. We want to profit from the advances through a close exchange with the supplier industry, thus striving to accelerate CO2 reduction.
  • In addition to materials, we are also continuously working to reduce CO2 emissions related to our in-house processes. Thus, we strive for lower emissions during in-house production through our power consumption and the continuous optimization of our production processes, such as injection molding, punching and reducing rejects.
  • It is also important to note that an LCA represents a snapshot in time. It is influenced by primary data, evaluation methods and system boundaries, which can change dynamically. Therefore, we focus on our own improvements rather than comparing ourselves to others. We are committed to constantly improving, and we stand by that commitment. After all, the principle still holds: Nothing is too small to have an impact.

 

The Future at a Glance:
Changing Requirements, Changing Challenges

For 50 years, WAGO splicing connectors have been an essential part of every toolbox and countless devices. While not quite as long, our splicing connectors with levers have also been on the market for more than two decades.

From 2003 to today: Discover the story behind our splicing connectors with levers!

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The Same Quality Made from Increasingly Sustainable Plastics

Our well-known connector with orange levers has long incorporated regranulate-based plastics. However, with the WAGO Splicing Connector with Levers Green Range, we’re going further. We continue to circulate existing materials using a combination of bio-based and recycled materials.

  • We process plastic waste generated during the production of plastic parts internally and generally reuse this regranulate in producing plastic parts. This is how we strive to minimize our plastic waste.
  • The WAGO Splicing Connector with Levers Green Range features a conductor cross-section of 4 mm², is made up of 77% bio-circular polycarbonate (housing) and at least 27% recycled PBT (lever). The PBT in the 221 Series Splicing Connector with levers (6 mm² conductor cross-section) and the 221 Series Green Range Inline Splicing Connector with levers contains approximately 26% bio-circular plastics.
  • Same quality: Both connectors meet the same technical standards and certifications, making them suitable for the same applications.
  • WAGO's Green Range Splicing Connector with levers is ideal for anyone looking to produce or construct more sustainably.

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That's in the Connector

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Packed in Grass Paper

Not only does the splicing connector use more sustainable resources, its packaging also follows suit. WAGO pays attention to the materials used and the associated environmental footprint when it comes to packaging, too. WAGO’s Green Range Splicing Connector with levers is packaged in grass paper, a more sustainable alternative to 100% recycled paper. Grass paper is made from up to 30% grass fiber and nearly 70% recycled paper. Grass paper production emits less CO2* and consumes less water** than pure recycled paper production. In addition, its impact on biodiversity is about 28% lower since the grass fiber comes from ecological compensation sites for development or fallow agricultural land. By law, these sites must be mown several times a year, and the grass clippings go into grass paper production.


*Approx. 5.6% reduction in CO2 emissions **Approx.11% lower water consumption

Flyer for download

You can find more information about WAGO's Green Range Splicing Connector with levers in the product flyer – simply download the PDF.

FAQ

What relevance does sustainability have for WAGO?

Why is WAGO sustainability so important?

What is so special about WAGO's Green Range Splicing Connector with levers?

What's behind the PC used?

What is mass balance?

What's behind the PBT used?

What does bio-circular mean?

What about the other materials? Are the metals also changed?

What is the technical difference from the original connector?

Does the new plastic affect the connector’s functionality?

Does the Green Range achieve CO2 reduction at the product level?

Find a Wholesaler Now

Want to see for yourself the advantages of WAGO's Green Range Splicing Connector with levers? Always nearby, always expert: With our wholesaler search tool, you can find the right contact for your WAGO products, along with excellent advice.

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Relying on the Right Connections for the Long Term

We promote sustainable, responsible conduct, and our entire organization is committed to protecting resources and contributing to a better quality of life.

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