Novel Methodology for Assessing Second Life Potentials of Industrial Products

In their transition towards a circular economy, companies encounter considerable challenges in harvesting the inherent value of industrial products. To overcome this challenge, it is reasonable to systematically determine second-life options in the early product design phases. The present paper introduces a methodology that promotes a value-based prioritization of (sub-)components and materials regarding their second-life potential. To achieve this, each level of a product architecture is assessed against sustainability and circularity criteria in the areas of technology, business, ecology, and legislation. The individual scores of (sub-)components and materials enable a value-based prioritization with three distinct levels of second-life potential. Moreover, a comparative evaluation of different product architectures regarding their sustainability and circularity can be conducted by determining an overall score. The development of the methodology is supported by a comprehensive literature review and expert interviews.