SEATTLE--Boeing and ELG Carbon Fibre are partnering on a project to recycle excess aerospace-grade composite material.

PFINZTAL, Germany--As carbon fiber-reinforced plastics continue to become major components of aircraft, it’s increasing the need for sustainable recycling concepts.

CUPERTINO, CA—Apple Inc. has developed a large-scale robotic line to disassemble returned iPhones. The line’s 29 free-standing robotic arms remove SIM card trays, screws, batteries, cameras and other parts for recycling.

TOKYO—Toyota has bumped up efforts to reduce waste by recycling old vehicle bumper covers and other scrap parts.

Manufacturers are pursuing a wide variety of “green” initiatives, such as energy-efficient lighting, landfill gas, recycling, solar panels and wind turbines. In fact, more than one-half of our 2014 State of the Profession respondents claim their plant has implemented green-related programs during the past 12 months. That’s a 3 percentage point increase over 2013 and 8 percentage points higher than 2012.

WATERLOO, WI—One year after piloting the bike industry’s first carbon fiber recycling program, Trek Bicycle has recovered more than 31,750 kilograms of material from its manufacturing facility here.

KYLE, TX—Image Microsystems plans to build a new factory here to turn electronic waste into substrate material for street and highway signs. The plant could create more than 180 jobs in the next two years.