Driving Circular Value Creation in the White Goods Industry via Lifecycle Management and AI-driven 9Rs

Abstract: The linear model in the white goods industry is broken. It generates millions of tonnes of e-waste annually and results in an estimated $91 Billion of lost material value. Upcoming EU regulations like the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) and the mandatory Digital Product Passport (DPP) are making this linear model not just unsustainable, but obsolete.

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Our Solution: An industry-led, process-centric R&D project building an intelligent ecosystem to make the circular economy for white goods profitable and scalable. The core of our solution is built on the following pillars:

1. A Digital Foundation for Every Product: We will implement a Digital Product Passport (DPP) for each appliance, serving as its dynamic 'Digital Twin'. This will provide an unprecedented level of transparency by tracking material composition, operational data, and all lifecycle events.

2. Thorough Lifecycle Assessment & Regulatory Alignment: Continuous Lifecycle Assessment (LCA) will be performed to quantify the environmental impact and economic benefits of our circular strategies. This ensures our approach is data-driven and fully aligned with upcoming EU regulatory frameworks like ESPR.

3. An AI-driven Decision Engine: The core of our system is an AI engine that analyses real-time data from the DPP. It will determine the optimal economic and environmental pathway for each product, prescribing the most effective 9R strategy (Repair, Refurbish, Remanufacture, Recycle, Repurpose) at the right time.

4. AI-powered Robotics and Process Intelligence: The system will provide intelligent assistance across the value chain. This includes AI-powered robotics for efficient, automated disassembly, process intelligence to optimise reverse logistics, and user guidance tools for consumers (e.g., for self-repair or optimal product use).

5. An Integrated Ecosystem Approach: The project will culminate in a platform that connects all stakeholders (manufacturers, users, technicians, recyclers). This platform leverages the AI's decisions, creating an efficient and aligned ecosystem for true circular value creation.

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Our Consortium:

• Fraunhofer IPK (Germany): Expertise in AI, computer vision, robotics for production, and process intelligence. Responsible for the AI decision engine and automated disassembly systems.

• Indústria Fox (Brazil and Chile): Expertise in the remanufacturing and refurbishment of white goods. Responsible for providing the industrial use case and serving as the primary pilot site.

• RISE Research Institutes of Sweden: Expertise in sustainability assessment and circular economy frameworks. Responsible for the continuous Lifecycle Assessment (LCA).

• Yes.Technology (Germany): Expertise in industrial software and hardware integration. Responsible for developing the scalable platform.

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Partners Sought for Collaboration:

We are seeking partners to fulfil the following roles:

1. Industry Champion

• Profile Sought: A White Goods Manufacturer (OEM) OR a company with expertise in remanufacturing/reverse logistics for international markets.

• Objective: To provide critical market insights, lead the commercial exploitation strategy, and address all phases of circular value creation.

2. Digital Integration & Development Partner

• Profile Sought: An industry or research partner with expertise in DPP implementation and/or application-centric development.

• Objective: To lead the technical implementation of the Digital Product Passport (DPP) and ensure seamless data integration between the product and the platform.