Design for Circularity Guidelines for the EEE Sector

Anton Berwald, Gergana Dimitrova, Thijs Feenstra, Joop Onnekink, Harm Peters, Gianni Vyncke and Kim Ragaert
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Anton Berwald: Environmental & Reliability Engineering, Fraunhofer Institute for Reliability and Microintegration IZM, 13355 Berlin, Germany
Gergana Dimitrova: Environmental & Reliability Engineering, Fraunhofer Institute for Reliability and Microintegration IZM, 13355 Berlin, Germany
Thijs Feenstra: Pezy Group Groningen, 9723 TV Groningen, The Netherlands
Joop Onnekink: Pezy Group Groningen, 9723 TV Groningen, The Netherlands
Harm Peters: Pezy Group Groningen, 9723 TV Groningen, The Netherlands
Gianni Vyncke: Center for Polymer & Material Technologies, Department of Materials, Textiles and Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering & Architecture, Ghent University, B-9052 Zwijnaarde, Belgium
Kim Ragaert: Center for Polymer & Material Technologies, Department of Materials, Textiles and Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering & Architecture, Ghent University, B-9052 Zwijnaarde, Belgium

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 7, 1-12

Abstract: The increased diversity and complexity of plastics used in modern devices, such as electrical and electronic equipment (EEE), can have negative impacts on their recyclability. Today, the main economic driver for waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) recycling stems from metal recovery. WEEE plastics recycling, on the other hand, still represents a major challenge. Strategies like design ‘for’, but also the much younger concept of design ‘from’ recycling play a key role in closing the material loops within a circular economy. While these strategies are usually analysed separately, this brief report harmonises them in comprehensive Design for Circularity guidelines, established in a multi-stakeholder collaboration with industry leaders from the entire WEEE value chain. The guidelines were developed at the product and part levels. They are divided in five categories: (1) avoidance of hazardous substances; (2) enabling easy access and removal of hazardous or polluting parts; (3) use of recyclable materials; (4) use of material combinations and connections allowing easy liberation; (5) use of recycled materials. These guidelines are the first harmonised set to be released for the EEE industry. They can readily serve decision-makers from different levels, including product designers and manufacturers as well as policymakers.

Keywords: plastics; recycling; WEEE; design guidelines; design for recycling; design from recycling; circular economy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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