W3_lecture1 CE and sustainability(1)

Module Overview

• Course Code: ENVE4610

• Title: Engineering the Circular Economy

• Module: 2 - Circular Economy

Introduction to Circular Economy

• Definition: A circular economy emphasizes designing out waste and pollution, maintaining product and material usage, and regenerating natural systems.

• It operates at three levels:

  • Micro (individual products and consumers)

  • Meso (eco-industrial parks)

  • Macro (city to global levels)

• Objectives: Create environmental quality, economic prosperity, and social equity for present and future generations through responsible practices and innovative business models.

Linear vs Circular Economy

Linear Economy

• Process: Take -> Make -> Use -> Waste

• Involves production of non-recyclable waste.

Circular Economy

• Process: Take -> Make -> Use -> Reuse/Recycle

• Emphasizes decoupling economic growth from resource consumption.

• Key Shift: Growth without use of scarce resources to minimize waste.

Circular Economy Principles

1. Closed Resource Loops: Aim for complete closure to eliminate virgin resource reliance.

2. Resource Flow Optimization: Ensure inputs and outputs balance; requires management of resource flow.

3. Multi-Level Concept: Involvement of micro (businesses), meso (industrial clusters), and macro (policy) levels.

4. Thermodynamics and Human Error: Perfect circularity is unrealistic; requires diverse approaches for sustainable resource management.

Benefits of Circular Economy

• Economic: Increased revenues, decreased production costs, savings on material costs, employment growth in recycling/remanufacturing sectors.

• Environmental: Improved land productivity/health, lower CO2 emissions, pollution reduction.

Circular Economy vs Sustainability

• Sustainability: Meeting present needs without compromising future generations. It encompasses economic, environmental, and social pillars (people, planet, profits).

• Circular Economy: Focuses on waste elimination and resource regeneration, aligning with sustainability goals.

Digitalization in Circular Economy

• Importance: Real-time tracking of products improves end-of-life management, enables predictive maintenance, and enhances resource recovery.

• Technologies: RFID for tracking, IoT for monitoring, data integration tools for managing product life cycles.

Circular Design Strategies

1. Design for Reuse: Create durable products that can be used multiple times.

2. Design for Repair: Facilitate easy repairs to extend product lifespan.

3. Design for Remanufacturing: Rebuild used products to restore them to working condition.

4. Design for Recycling: Ensure products can be efficiently broken down and materials recycled.

Digitising the Circular Economy

Importance

• Real-time tracking of products improves end-of-life management.

• Enables predictive maintenance to maximize product lifespan.

• Enhances resource recovery through data-driven insights.

Technologies

• RFID (Radio-Frequency Identification): For tracking assets throughout their lifecycle.

• IoT (Internet of Things): For monitoring product conditions and usage patterns.

• Data Integration Tools: For managing product life cycles efficiently, ensuring transparency and accountability.

Future Trends and Challenges

• Adaption to stricter policies, climate changes, and growing customer demands for sustainability.

• Businesses shifting from selling products to providing services (e.g., rentals, subscriptions).

Key Takeaways

• The course offers an in-depth understanding of circular economy principles, sustainability interconnections, and design strategies.

• A holistic approach incorporates engineering, sustainability assessments, logistics, and social aspects in product/process design.