Recycling and Materials

Authorised Genelec distributors around the world will provide you with an expert repair service, giving new life to damaged or faulty units - often long after they have been discontinued.

However, if your Genelec model is damaged beyond repair, or you don't want to use it anymore, please take care that it is properly disposed of at an authorised recycling facility - and according to your local environmental legislation.

• Loudspeaker drivers contain several different materials so they should be dismantled for recycling.
• Our DCW waveguide is made of aluminium (or plastic), and both are well suited for recycling.
• Enclosure damping material is either synthetic fibre wool, glass wool or linen wool. Fibre and glass wool can be recycled, while linen wool can be burnt or composted.
• Amplifier plates are made of aluminium and can be recycled, once all the electronic components have been removed.
• Rack mount amplifier casings are made of pressed steel and can be recycled.
• Electronic components can be recycled according to your local electronic equipment recycling standards. Please do not burn any of the amplifier components.
• Cables and connectors can be re-used in a suitable application, or recycled according to your local electronic equipment recycling standards.
  

Enclosure materials

Genelec designs use two main types of enclosure materials: aluminium or MDF (Medium-Density Fibreboard).

Aluminium is an excellent material for loudspeaker enclosures: its low density and stiffness produces lighter enclosures with thinner walls than is possible with other materials. It also functions as an excellent EMC shield for the amplifier. In 2023, 97% of the aluminium used in our designs was recycled, with the three major sources being beverage cans, old automobile parts and scrap from the production of new aluminium parts and components.

MDF is a traditional enclosure material and also very good for making loudspeakers. MDF is an engineered wood product formed by breaking down hardwood or softwood residuals into wood fibres, combining it with wax and a resin binder, and forming panels by applying high temperature and pressure. The environmental impact of MDF has greatly improved over the years, and today many MDF boards are made from a variety of materials: however, Genelec currently uses MDF made from wood.

Packing materials

Genelec models employ two main types of outer packaging: cardboard and plywood boxes, while the inner packaging uses some plastic and paper materials. When designing the packaging, we aim to reduce its environmental impact both during the manufacturing phase as well as the transportation process.

After you have unpacked your Genelec model, please store the packing material in a safe place in case you ever need to transport it again. The original packing is always the safest option when sending items for repair, but when you are certain that the packing materials are no longer needed, please recycle them responsibly. Cardboard and plastic can be recycled or burned in a waste disposal oven, plywood can be recycled or burned in a controlled high temperature waste disposal oven, and the metal parts on our plywood boxes can also be recycled.