Design of collection strategies for neodymium magnets present in end-of-life wind turbines and electric vehicles in the European Union

The demand for electric vehicles (EVs) and wind turbines have been rising significantly in the EU as the EU wants to become carbon neutral by 2050 and generate 40% of its energy through renewable sources in order to avoid climate change and its consequences. However, both these technologies use several critical raw materials essential for their...

Material Recovery from Dutch Wind Energy: A dynamic material flow analysis on Dutch wind turbines towards 2050 including recycling approaches for recovery of key materials

The transition to a renewable electricity system requires more intensive material use, causing problem shifting in environmental impacts. To conserve resources for the future and mitigate environmental impact, circular economy principles are needed. This study analyses material flows in Dutch wind energy towards 2050 to identify the potential...

The redesign of CPAP supplies for the Circular Economy: A product service system as a modular solution

The business wide objective of Philips regarding the transition to the circular economy is among others, that 15% of the total revenue should be from circular revenue from products and services by 2020.Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome use a CPAP machine at home to keep their airways open during sleep. The Sleep & Respiratory...

Accelerating the transition towards a Circular Denim Industry: How can the use of Post-consumer Recycled Cotton be increased in Jeans production?

This project is executed on behalf of House of Denim; a non-profit organisation that wants to work towards a more sustainable, innovative and collaborative denim industry. Due to the fast-fashion phenomenon and our linear economic model, there is a growing demand for and pressure on cotton. This, combined with the increasing amount of clothes...

Mattress Ticking: Creating circular products

On a yearly bases approximately 1,5 million mattresses are discarded in the Netherlands. Matras Recycling Europe (MRE) is an Utrecht based company that specialises in disassembling mattresses. MRE is able to recycle 250.000 to 300.000 of the 1,5 million mattresses. Most of the pieces that are separated from these mattresses can be re-used in...

Bring the waste back to the city: A decentralized system for waste upcycling along the IJ River

In 2050, the human population will exceed nine billion. There are limits to the capacity of the earth, while the human population keeps on growing. Our appetite for raw materials is increasing rapidly, while available resources keep on falling. As an international metropolitan city, Amsterdam will also experience a population explosion and urban...

Enabling the recycling of 3D printed electronics in a circular economy

This thesis describes the research on design measures and new recycling methods to enable the recycling of 3D printed electronics. By looking into methods to release metals from polymer substrate and design interventions to enable predictable fracturing of 3D printed structures in a shredder, a step towards the recycling of valuable metals from...

Upcycling Centre Zuidoost: From waste to resource

The Zuidoost district is divided in mono-functional zones, such as housing in the Bijlmer and Holendrecht area and working in the Amstel III area. The Upcycling Centre Zuidoost will connect both sides in the future of 2050 in a physical, social and economic way. This is done by creating a building that becomes the driver of the circular economy....

A Cooperative Phone Return Experience: How nature inspires solving circular challenges

Mobile phones are one of the most ubiquitous devices in our lives. The ever-growing demand for mobile phones and rapid upgrade patterns, gives mobile phones an unsustainable linear character, with a big contribution to e-waste. This study is about stimulating consumers to return their mobile phones to extend its life or fulfill another purpose...