Technology-Enabled Circularity: Project Final Report

Introduction

Within academia and industry, the past decade has seen renewed interest both in more sustainable approaches to economic growth and in technological progress towards ‘Industry 4.0’. These interdisciplinary topics have tended to develop independently. Sustainability is of critical importance to the climate change crisis, with academic focus including economic and social sustainability of manufacturing, food production and national and local resilience in the context of supply chain disruption. Concurrently, work across social sciences and STEM has been addressing the digitisation of production and 3D printing, in terms of technological advancement and analysis impact on business models and economy and society more broadly. ‘Industry 4.0’ has received much policy focus. The digital technologies included under this umbrella term are expected to transform manufacturing and reshoring production back to advanced economies. There is also an implicit assumption that they can help to re-localise manufacturing, reducing the dependence of economies on geographically extensive supply chains.

The increased adoption of digital technologies may help to enable the transformation of existing business models, manufacturing systems, supply networks and re-localisation. This brings academic attention together with discussions around circular economies and sustainability. However, despite the potentially significant contribution of existing and emerging knowledge of technological solutions to sustainability, and circularity in particular, there is still relatively little academic work that engages and unifies across these two areas.

This network aimed to draw together researchers working on both digital manufacturing and circular economies outside the work already happening within institutions to develop wider dialogue and ensure interdisciplinary spread. It had two interrelated objectives. First, to deepen our academic understandings and integrate perspectives from across the social sciences and STEM in a truly interdisciplinary network. Second, to help meet industry and policy demand for potential solutions to social and economic problems through creating collaborations that can leverage grant funding.

The project team would like to thank GW4 for their Building Communities funding (September 2022-March 2023).

Dr Jennifer Johns, University of Bristol

Prof. Aris Syntetos, Cardiff Business School

Dr Daniel Eyers, Cardiff Business School

Dr Rick Lupton, University of Bath

Dr Okechukwu Okorie, Exeter Business School

Jess Robins, University of Bristol

Jennifer.Johns@bristol.ac.uk

SyntetosA@cardiff.ac.uk

EyersDR@cardiff.ac.uk

RCL38@bath.ac.uk

O.S.Okorie@exeter.ac.uk

JRobins@protonmail.com

Bristol

The Bristol workshop brought together the core research group with the first members of the group to discuss mutual areas of interest in the intersection of digital technologies and circular economy. Introductory presentations were given by the core group, these were followed by brief presentations from some of the workshop participants: Qinglan Lui presented her work on a systematic literature review to examine the interaction of digital technology and different areas of the circular economy; Mark Goudswaard spoke about his work on the Design and Manufacturing Futures lab; Jenny Hackard joined us from the Impact Team and spoke about her involvement with the Net Zero taskforce; and Raissa Bonilla spoke about her PhD exploring reshoring supply chains in the UK and Brazil. Following the presentations there were two lively round table discussions around the potential for research in the areas of digital technology and circular economy.

Key themes from the discussion round “What is most exciting/important about the interaction between digital technologies and circular economies?”

Smarter product manufacturing

» Reduction of fabrication scraps through near net shape production;

» Self-replicating machinery that could build net-zero into its own design and construct systems models;

» Being able to trace a specific raw material, from the source to the impact it has at different points in its lifecycle;

» Mass customisation/ mass personalisation would reduce production runs and the need for tooling;

» RISK: the energy consumption of digital manufacturing processes and data servers needs to be monitored.

Better application of material within manufacturing

» Using virtual and augmented reality to support dismantling and recycling, for example to keep copper out of steel;

» Using material passports to trace a products material composition;

» RISK: a proliferation of use of integrated 3D printing machines could lead to multiple material input composites which would make them harder to recycle.

New business sectors and business models

» Businesses are experimenting with circular economy, but they’re not scalable yet, should businesses be aiming for scalability or is replicability more important;

» There is a risk of greenwashing, big data and better labelling could be used to empower consumers and investors;

» The drivers for businesses to move to a CE need to be made much clearer:

» moving to net-zero and mitigating climate change,

» increased government support,

» a balance between data availability and data abundance so as not to overwhelm,

» reducing operational costs in light of the energy crisis;

» Challenges to business and economic norms;

» Challenge the idea that consumers are becoming more or less ethical over time, how have ethical standards changed.

The

» AI, blockchain and RFID all produce an abundance of digital data, what can this data do for researchers, and what opportunities are there for research with business?

» Getting hold of charity shop data for example, to examine reuse patterns;

» Blockchain and product passports as areas of research, there seems to be a resistance of use in industry, why? Is there something to be learned from fairtrade and organic labelling, have these systems failed?

Extending the lifetime of materials and resources

» Manufacturers to provide support for longer lifetimes through spare or legacy parts, this can be achieved through deployment of 3D printers to create the parts once production is finished;

» Existing products should be adapted for repair or remanufacture, allowing for flexibility in reuse and customisation;

» Support for a rise in online resale marketplaces, this creates a demand for high quality second-hand as seen in fashion subscriptions.

Smarter product use, through encouraging rethink and refuse

» Avoiding wasted products, through use of additive manufacturing which reduces the cost of design changes through rapid prototyping;

» Better predictions of suitability of products for users, for example, virtual changing rooms;

» A focus on lifetime legacy, what is the impact of long-term decisions on a product;

» An honest examination of consumption in order to forecast future needs.

The challenges identified around developing these emerging ideas and themes formed a series of questions that could be the starting point to research.

» Why have moves to methods similar to a circular economy not worked before, what were the barriers to uptake, and what lessons could be learnt?

» Does an international set of standard need to be devised? Or would these need to be sector specific?

» Who are the right groups to take ownership and responsibility for resources: government, industry, the consumer or all three?

» What are the right methods for modelling the existing systems, both linear and circular?

» An evidence base of circularity washing needs to be built up, that includes industry case studies to close the gap between industry and academia and provide an empirical knowledge base.

» How can the circular economy research keep pace with technological change and advancement?

» The problem of the existing neoliberal mindset championing short-term goals and solutions over long term circular models.

» What is the consumer appetite for non-new products?

» Where could someone find information on the full list of circular products?

A number of human barriers were also identified.

» The expectation of products to be a certain quality and have certain usability, especially as they would become more expensive as made from higher quality materials.

» In the short term we would need more manual labour and less automation while repair processes are developed.

» There is also a lack of skills when it comes to reshoring manufacturing, so how could production move closer if there are less skills?

» How to develop education and expertise to make technology accessible and usable, and build skills in areas relating to circularity?

new and innovative technology types that will be needed

Exeter

The Exeter event focused on the contribution Early Career Researchers could make to the research areas, which were expanded to include all areas of sustainability and digital technology. This event was set up as a mini conference where new members of the research community had an opportunity to present their current work and network with other community members from the GW4 universities.

The first set of presentations outlined the state of the field with Susan Lattanzio introducing the work of Bath University’s Centre for People-Led Digitalisation, who place emphasis on the importance of including people and culture in digital transformation. Shuang Shen then spoke about his research with the University of Exeter around using power system modelling techniques to study the impacts of the integration of renewable energies on the power system and the digitalised adaption of power networks towards Net-Zero. Qinglan Lui then presented a more in-depth look at her research into areas of digitalisation within the circular economy. Demonstrating the matrix she created to explore the intersection of the R framework and the different types of digital technologies that are the current subjects of different research papers.

Presentations of work in the areas of sustainability and digitalisation were given by:

» Vittoria Loviscek, Cardiff University – Circular economy for the built environment: a comparative study of London and São Paulo;

» Ursula Davis, Loughborough University – Circular Agriculture Knowledge Hub;

» Genevieve Shanahan, Cardiff University – Why reinvent the wheel? The value of sociotechnical revisability and concretizing multiplicity in alternative organizations;

» Thanos Goltsos, Cardiff University – The Circular Economy and Repurposing: Product Transformation & Connected Collaboration

Following this there was a lively panel discussion with Jennifer Russell (Virginia Tech), Nadine Leder (Cardiff) and Rick Lupton (Bath) this was chaired by Jennifer Jones. The discussion centred around sustainability education and circular implementation in the UK and the USA comparing the state of play in each country.

L-R: Jennifer Johns, Rick Lupton, Nadine Leder, and Jennifer Russell via Zoom

Cardiff

The day in Cardiff brought together academics, industry and third sector to share current ideas from the different areas. The workshop also showcased the work being done in the RemakerSpace at Cardiff University, with tours of the new facilities.

Dr Jennifer Johns leads the ‘Technology-enabled Circularity’ project funded by the GW4, bringing together expertise on digital technologies and circular economies. She is a Reader in International Business at the University of Bristol Business School with expertise in global value chains and digital business models. Her other grants include an EPSRC project on 3D printing and distributed manufacturing with colleagues in Engineering at the University of Bristol. Her research interest in industrial applications of 3D printing is also complemented with research on makerspaces, entrepreneurs and the local sustainability of making. She wrote the Guide to Setting up a FabLab for the Fab Foundation. Jennifer is interested in the localisation of manufacturing and how digitalisation will shift the geographies of production. Working with collaborators in the UK and US, Jennifer has a project examining eco-friendly SME disruptor firms in the fashion industry as they journey towards circular economy business models. Jennifer acts as Academic Advisor to the GTMA trade association and is on the Expert Advisory board of TCT.

Brian Mayne is a fellow of the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management and the Royal Society of Arts, Chartered Environmentalist, and is recognised by the International Solid Waste Association as an International Waste Manager. Brian is a director of his own environmental consultancy that works with clients across the public, private and third sectors offering advice on the circular economy, wastes management, and sustainable development. He also lectures and delivers training courses, as well as writing a monthly newspaper column on environmental issues. He is an adviser to Sustainable Wales and regularly appears in the Resource Magazines Hot 100 waste and resource leaders.

Presenter profiles

Dr Elies Dekoninck is an Industrial Designer and a Senior Lecturer (Associate Professor) in Mechanical Engineering. Her research is in the areas of Design Creativity, Product Development and Innovation: specialising in user-centred eco-design, eco-innovation tools including TRIZ, and design practice in industry. Some of her most recent research ranges from: open-source hardware design, spatial augmented reality for co-design, interaction design for dementia, and design communication in complex projects. She developed and leads the MEng Integrated Design Engineering (IDE) programme at the University of Bath and teaches courses on product design and development.

Mike Wilson started his career as an engineer in traditional manufacturing before moving into the Electronics Industry and became the Regional CEO for Celestica, leading the $3.5bn European business and was part of the IPO, which at the time was the largest IPO in the Tech Sector. Following some time in Asia setting up Manufacturing and Supply Chains, he moved into Third Party Logistics and was The Global Head of Logistics for Panalpina, which was bought by DSV in 2019. He is currently Executive Vice President of Global Logistics Manufacturing Services and of Latin America for the $45bn turnover company. Mike holds a degree in Industrial Engineering, a MPhil in Operational Research and a MBA, from Cardiff University – where, in 2013, together with Aris Syntetos he founded the PARC Institute for Manufacturing, Logistics and Inventory at Cardiff Business School and where he is now an Honorary Visiting Professor.

The first exercise run by Rick Lupton looked at what the barriers are to circularity and where digital technology can help; generating ideas for further research and collaborations.

What are the barriers to circularity?Where can technology help?

» The cost of employing a circular model:

» Training staff,

» Updating or changing equipment,

» Finding and moving to circular resource and material sources

» Uncertainty around changes in business models makes investors more risk adverse

Economic

» If manufacturers take back responsibility/ ownership what happens to third party refurbishers?

» Stakeholder conflict at intersect

» e.g., producer is cost driven

» Unlocking and utilising different skill sets

» A lack of understanding about the circular economy

» Data fears around tech disposal

» Change the meaning of what is valuable or recognise the value in more than just money

» Workforce behaviour (resistance to change)

» Change in mindset needed to reject obsolescence and design for short “fashion” cycles in favour of longevity and repairability

Social

Data

» Need to think differently about work and leisure

» Lacking data at a local and national level

» No one sector has multiple successful case studies

» Identifying loops within loops

» Optimising = composite materials

» Fault diagnosis is a prerequisite for printing spare parts – who is going to do that? (business/ consumers?)

» Core equipment that drive technology:

» PCs, boards

» Need to address longevity/repairability

» Quality procedures/checking/audit

Product manufacture

» Standards & regulations limit change (cost/time) (esp med tech sector)

» Future proofing

» Uncertainty about outcomes

» Some reuse planning doesn’t pan out i.e. Nissan Leaf batteries

» Controllers of key mechanisms need to look at what they can do with them at end of life.

» Corporate responsibility/regulation?

» Can digital services replace physical products, and will this reduce the burden on the planet?

» How to strike a balance between the digital services needed and the creation of the devices to operate these services?

» Simulating budget plans to assess viability

» Digital and general training for employees

» Lifecycle assessments to identify where circularity could be improved or introduced

» Tracking products and materials through supply chain using blockchain

» Adapting supply chain to be more circular and employing reverse supply chain models

» Collaborative worker spaces for sharing problems and best practice through integrated digital frameworks

» Integrate users into tech/digital design

» Transparency in knowledge sharing across industry

» Digital solutions for addressing device hoarding. But also:

» Fulfilling needs on new ways

» e.g., Travel prevention or alternatives

» Bringing back old technologies – low tech solutions

» Making circular choices easier than non-circular choices (for businesses, employees, consumers)

» Lack of local data can be overcome with sensors, blockchain, citizen science (when people submit data?)

» Component index at point of production

» Catalogue of products

» Digital design

» VR environments

» + Cad design

» + User consultation

» Digital twins to help reduce prototyping

» Design for sustainability

» Enable universal responsibilities e.g. grade tech for recycling/reuse – A, B, C…

» Digital follow up

» Manufacturers responsibility – e.g. collection

» Phone based barcode scanner for use by dates (app)

» Apple Repairability Index

» Inter-sectoral waste information sharing through a digital platform

» Lower expectations of product

» Technical solutions towards Global Net Zero

The second exercise run by Daniel Eyers took advantage of the different sectors represented and asked “What does each sector needs from each other in order to enable a digital circular economy?”

Industry

» Design tools

» Local supply chains (in progress)

» Material data for different production methods:

» Printed/powder additive manufacturing etc.

» Parts certification:

» How long it lasts

» % performance data on standard parts

» Organisations to provide access to data

» More case studies to analyse in academia

» Commercial tool to support environmentally improved design at university level

» Effective consumer messaging/nudging

» Economically viable access to spare parts

» Life-cycle engagement when developing Product Service Systems

» Less consumer choice (de-customisation)

» Manage expectation

» Understanding of the circular economy

» Design training for single use materials

» Companies willing to collaborate with other sectors and implement circular solutions

Policy

» Understanding of CE across the board

» Concrete targets and clear strategy

» Policy for circularity platform in each industry

» Policymakers support with funding

» Demand by research, funders and government

» Right to repair policy

» Less plastic casing on products

» Need a Circular Economy Innovation fund

» Learn from good practice in different contexts

» Repair skills taught in school

» Close skills gap

» Extended producer responsibility

» Government grants for R&D for SMEs

» Better understanding of the concept and why it matters (ie. it's not just recycling)

» Public engagement

» Metrics to measure circularity

» New economic policy

» Moving away from GDP

Academia

» Design tools that quantify environmental impact at design stage

» Concrete targets:

» What to design to in terms of material use? I.e. x g of cobalt per Kw for an aerospace motor

» Transparency (data) from industry

» More data about material use and production

» Communication and shared knowledge/ ideas around concepts

» Funding to develop engineering solutions for material recycling

» Awareness of production methods and material availability

» Training:

» Skills

» Education

» Re-define waste:

» Not an economic concept

» Holistic definition of value (and adoption of definition)

» Clever people with great ideas that research councils will fund

» More academics from different disciplines to engage in circular economy

Other

» Change in people and public demand

» Total cost of ownership

» Customers testing circular prototypes

» Mindset/openness

» Communication in policy of benefits of circularity, and incentives

» Achievable but also optimistic target setting

» More money

» Recognise the benefits of CE

» GHG emissions

» Job creation

» Security

» Cost of living reductions

» Ensure CE includes social element

» Sustainability = economy, environment, social

» Training/upskilling at all education/career stages in digital skills and knowledge of CE

Ongoing work work

The research presented in the workshops have touched on many interesting areas in this emerging field and posed questions that could lead to exciting projects and collaborations. Early career community members shared the interesting areas they have been working in, from building knowledge exchange hubs among apple farmers and the technology choices of zero-waste cooperatives, to investigating products designed for repurposing and exploring how the circular economy can be applied to the built environment in cities around the world. We have discussed the different approaches and challenges to implementing sustainability and circular economy research between the UK and USA. Experts from academia, industry and the third sector shared their insights: we were asked by industrial design expert Dr Elies Dekoninck to consider the large impact design decisions have at the start of a project, and to embed lifecycle thinking into all design work; heard predictions from Mike Wilson that as demand for parts production moves closer to home, storage warehouses would become 3D printer hubs for spare parts on demand printing; and learned how, through devolution, Wales is becoming a world leader in waste management and recycling innovation from Brian Mayne.

Now our project funding has drawn to a close we are working with our new community to establish how we may continue to collaborate and advance academic and non-academic work in this area.

The workshops that took place over the course of the project have resulted new collaborations and partnerships have continued to flourish since the final event in Cardiff. An opportunity has arisen for an industry and academia collaboration to develop research in digital circular economy which will contribute to a PhD. Connections have been made between members of the community and the Centre for People-Led Digitalisation in Bath, with collaborations around Fab Labs, games and a song on the horizon.

We are looking forward to the outcomes of these projects and will be keen to know of any more that are developed as a result of connections made through our community. Our hope is that the community partners will continue to build on their relationships with one another, developing new and exciting areas of research and we are looking to extend the network beyond its South West origin, to build the community across the country, furthering research into this exciting area.