Due to current consumption patterns, the world is subject to an environmental crisis. A Circular Economy (CE), “restorative by nature” (Ellen MacArthur Foundation, 2013, p. 14), could mitigate this crisis; however, implementing circularity principles into the lifecycle is not str
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Due to current consumption patterns, the world is subject to an environmental crisis. A Circular Economy (CE), “restorative by nature” (Ellen MacArthur Foundation, 2013, p. 14), could mitigate this crisis; however, implementing circularity principles into the lifecycle is not straightforward for many products, including composites. A snowboard is a typical sports composite; since this sector is severely dependent on the state of the environment, the intention to become more sustainable is increasingly expressed in this industry. However, environmental impact information of possible circularity interventions is lacking; the goal of this research is to bridge this research gap for this and related industries. This is done by identifying circular lifecycle scenarios for 2025 and evaluating these with prospective LCA to answer the following research question: “In what ways could the principles of the circular economy be incorporated into the snowboard lifecycle by design year 2025, and how would this affect the environmental impact?”. This question was answered by conducting a mixed methods review involving statistical analysis, literature review, and expert consultation, followed by a prospective LCA-study. Three plausible circular scenarios were identified: secondhand use, a focus on biobased materials, and a focus on recycling and recyclability. Of these alternatives, the secondhand alternative performed best; the other alternatives performed better in certain impact categories and worse in others. Main contributors to the snowboard environmental impact were materials and production, specifically production electricity; the impact of the use- and distribution phase were limited. However, the research was subject to large uncertainties and data challenges. In conclusion, the holy grail for composite circularity has not been found yet; future research should focus on finding lower impact solutions to ensure effective implementation of the circular economy in this growing industry.