Circular Approaches

To use this potential in the best way, various circular approaches can be implemented. The objective is to reduce the demand for finite resources and increase the use of renewable ones, while intensifying and extending the operation phase of already utilized materials.

This can be applied at each step of a products life cycle. From a renewable and circular supply over life-extending approaches like refurbishment, reuse and remanufacturing up to the recycling of materials and raw materials. Additionally, dematerialisation in form of service and sharing business models can reduce the demand for resources.

'Interaction of circular approaches' created at my internship at FfE

These circular approaches are not clearly and universally defined in current literature and are therefore described in the following chapters. Each approach is clearly differentiated from the others by stating their position in the life cycle and their level in the product system. The life cycle consists of the steps supply, extraction, production, distribution, operation, end-of-life, return flow and reprocessing. The product system consists of the levels product, component, material and raw material.