What is CE-RISE?
The Circular Economy Resource Information System (CE-RISE) is a EU-funded project aiming to optimise raw material reuse and recovery in electronic products. CE-RISE will develop and pilot an integrated framework and an ensuing resource information system to identify optimal solutions for the effective reuse, recovery, and/or recycling of materials through blockchain technology to explore the applicability of a Digital Product Passport (DPP) to five electronic items.
Consortium meeting in Athens
Early December, consortium partners headed to Athens for the project’s third presential meeting. To kick off the session, motivated to learn more about ECORESET’s activities, partners geared up to visit its refurbishing and sorting facilities in the vicinity of the Greek capital. Spyros Karamoutsos and Dimitra Papoutsoglu presented the local specificities of WEEE management and related extended producer responsibility regulations .
During the meetings, partners did not only discuss project progress but also participated in three workshops, discussing RE-criteria and the successful implementation of circular strategies, socio-economic and environmental footprint of products from different perspectives, and understanding the functionality of the CE-RISE Information System by testing its first prototype.
Eager to build on existing shared knowledge, CE-RISE welcomed three guest speakers: Fredrik Andresen from Batteriretur joined the meeting to share his expertise in electric vehicles and high voltage batteries while Advisory Board member, Eduard Wagner, representing CIRPASS talked about supply chain transparency. Finally, project partners familiarised themselves with the DigInTraCE thanks to Alexandros Chatzipavlidis and Lucyna Lekawska-Andrinopoulou's detailed presentation.
First glance at the CE-RISE Information System
The first mock prototype of the much-anticipated CE-RISE Information System has been revealed to project partners in early December 2023. This digital information system aiming to add value to the information contained in Digital Product Passports (DPP) was easily accessed by simply scanning a QR code. The prototype simulated the link between a set of DPPs describing a value chain of electronic products, the interaction of DPPs with the information system, and gap-filling environmental data from an external life cycle assessment database. In addition, it distinguished functionality based on user type and allowed for user interaction, such as updating a repair log which is essential to creating trust in reused and refurbished products. Supporting development discussions in CE-RISE, the protype in question allowed for the easy demonstration of functionalities, and served as a base ahead of the system implementation scheduled to start in January 2024.
Exclusive stakeholder news
How Digital Product Passports and R-strategies will guide the sustainable transition
Brought to you by Tian Daphne and Daniel Gregory from CE-RISE partner, Circularise.
The CE-RISE project is championing the widespread adoption of Digital Product Passports (DPPs) for product lifecycle management. DPPs serve as a digital ledger, providing detailed information that enhances the transparency and traceability of products throughout their lifecycle, instrumental in advancing the ten R-Strategies, focusing on three primary objectives for a circular economy.
The first objective revolves around creating smarter products that are used and manufactured efficiently. Information on how a product performs over its life cycle incentivises the designer to consider the entire life cycle of the product, leading to critical design decisions that can reduce or eliminate the use of materials or processes incompatible with the circular economy.
- R0 Refuse: Make a product obsolete by disregarding its functionality and offering alternative products that serve the same purpose.
- R1 Rethink: Design products with a higher utilisation rate, incorporating multifunctional aspects and contemplating shared models.
- R2 Reduce: Design and manufacture products more efficiently, employing tactics such as reducing material usage, minimising energy consumption, and mitigating pollution. These practices significantly decrease the environmental footprint while enhancing cost-effectiveness and sustainability across the entire value chain.
For example, if a company can access regulatory information through a Digital Product Passport, it might cut its use of virgin plastics for car interiors if the DPP confirms compliance with relevant regulations. This level of supply chain transparency, made available to designers, can also inform and improve the design process for future product versions, leading to more sustainable choices and innovations.
Circular economy in the heating industry
Brought to you by Jahanzeb Tariq from CE-RISE partner, Viessmann.
The heating industry in Germany has seen a turbulent ride in the last 3 years not least due to the COVID-19 pandemic, war in Ukraine, rotations in regulatory frameworks, and material bottlenecks from China and Taiwan. While these events have caused the industry to think on its feet; they have also paved the way for climate friendly solutions and developing circular business models.
Heat pump systems have gained traction in Germany as the go-to technology for heating since natural gas prices have spiked in the past few years. Heat pumps have also been labelled as a “climate change mitigation technology” given that it is less CO2 intensive than natural gas boilers, especially as the electric power grid is becoming progressively “greener”.
A major challenge that remains from switching from boilers to heat pumps is that heat pumps are more material intensive. A heat pump consists of Steel, Copper, Aluminium, insulation, refrigerant, electronics, and plastics as the major materials – incorporating critical and strategic raw materials along with rare earth magnets and 3TG (conflict) minerals. An average heat pump might last between 12-17 years in the use phase, however, the growing population increases demand which leads to the decoupling of business growth from resource use and environmental degradation. This is the fundamental reason for establishing circular business models. Moreover, oscillations in the geo-political landscape leading to supply chain bottlenecks catalyse the need and keep propelling the European Commission’s efforts to close the loop.
Is there a market for refurbished products?
Brought to you by André Rückert from CE-RISE partner, ECOLOGICON.
Refurbishment of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) is an important step in the fulfilment of the European waste hierarchy and an important component of the circular economy. WEEE refurbishment can conserve valuable resources and reduce environmental impact over the lifecycle of a product. In Germany as well as in the European Union, the majority of separately collected WEEE is recycled. In the period from 2018 to 2021, only 1.5 % on average and below was prepared for reuse (including refurbishment) in Germany and the European Union. There is a high potential for improvement.
Th article examines whether there is a market for refurbished products from both technical and financial aspects with an overview on how CE-RISE will support the transition across Europe.
Empowering Sustainability: Digital Product Passports in the Circular Economy
Brought to you by Michelle Wagner from CE-RISE partner, WEEE Forum.
In the era of rapid technological advancement and heightened environmental awareness, the concept of a circular economy has gained significant traction. Traditional linear economic models, characterized by the ‘take-make-dispose’ approach, are being replaced by sustainable alternatives. At its core, the circular economy aims to minimise waste and maximise the lifespan of products and materials. Digital circular economy platforms leverage cutting-edge technologies such as blockchain, the Internet of Things (IoT), and artificial intelligence (AI) to facilitate the seamless flow of products, materials, and information in closed loops. These platforms enable businesses to shift from ownership to service-based models, fostering the reusability and recycling of resources. One such innovative solution is digital circular economy platforms, which are reshaping the way businesses operate, resources are utilised, and waste is managed. A ground-breaking advancement within the circular economy is the introduction of Digital Product Passports (DPPs).
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