MEM601 Engineering Sustainability Case Study 3 Sample
Assignment Brief
Context
Engineers Australia (n.d.) contend that a circular economy is an alternative to a traditional linear economy (that traditionally follows the 'make, use, dispose plan). In a circular economy, resources are kept in use for as long as possible, the maximum value is extracted from them while they are in use and the products and materials are recovered and regenerated at the end of each service life. As Engineers Australia (n.d.) states, ‘As engineers in a modern world we have the opportunity to discover and develop sustainable design and engineering methods to improve the reuse, repair, remanufacturing and recycling of products for a circular economy’.
The concept of a circular economy is a way of developing a holistic, system-wide approach to the issue of waste, recycling and sustainable development. It addresses recycling and the entire lifecycle of devices. Designers, manufacturers, investors, traders, miners, consumers, policy makers and others all have a role to play in the circular economy.
CSIRO (n.d.) emphasises that‘[b]y maximising resource utility and incorporating the concept of circularity during production and consumption (i.e. not just focused on waste management), the circular economy boosts entire economies. For Australia, where currently the value of its natural resources lies only in the raw, unprocessed state, a circular economy is critical in ensuring future prosperity and economic security’.
This assessment deals with the recycling of e-waste as part of the move to a circular economy. In 2018, roughly 50 million metric tonnes of e-waste were generated globally. Of this waste, only 20% was recycled/re-used through appropriate channels. E-waste also presents an opportunity for businesses to recover expensive and scarce resources, such as precious metals, rare earths and other critical materials that have a potential value of US$62.5 Billion annually. However current technologies, business models and policy frameworks are not well adapted to enable the recovery of these resources (World Economic Forum, 2019).
APA References
CSIRO. (n.d.) Circular economy and waste management. Retrieved from https://www.csiro.au/en/Research/Environment/Circular Economy#:~:text=For%20Australia%2C%20where%20currently%20the,%2C%20paper%2C%2 0glass%20and%20tyres
Engineers Australia (n.d.) Engineering and the circular economy.
Retrieved from https://www.engineersaustralia.org.au/Event/engineering-and- circular-economy
World Economic Forum. (2019, 24 January). A new circular vision for electronics, time for a global reboot. Retrieved from https://www.weforum.org/reports/a-new-circular-vision- forelectronics-time-for-a-global-reboot
In this assessment, you will use circular economy concepts to generate recommendations that countries can adopt to address e-waste. To complete this assessment, you will research and address the questions and issues (outlined below) in relation to Australia.
Business Models
• Identify examples of business models that promote the circular use of electronic resources.
• What incentives are required to promote circular conceptsthroughout the lifecycle of electronic products?
• How can businesses ensure that circular economy concepts are embedded throughout their electronic supply chains?
Technology
• Identify examples of innovative technologies that can facilitate the re-use of e-waste materials.
• Identify challenges to the adoption and scalability of technical solutions.
The methodology for this assessment is based on desk-based research using secondary sources.
You need to prepare for and approach this task by reviewing the content and readings provided in ‘Module 4: Ensuring Engineering Sustainability Compliance’ and conducting research of publicly available information.
In structuring the report, please use the following headings as a guide:
1. Introduction
Summarise the background information provided on the circular economy and e-waste and the objective of the assignment.
2. Research questions to be addressed
Research questions and issues related to business models and technology.
3. Literature Review
Summarise the literature review for each research question.
4. Recommendations for Australia
What should Australia do to facilitate a more effective strategic approach to develop a circular economy for e-waste?
5. Conclusions
6. References
7. Appendices
Solution
1. Introduction
Advancements in technologies have introduced a new era of the world with digitization of lifestyle, industries and economy therefore, electronics are now essentials. But the “by-product” of such revolution is the alarming rate of electronic waste more commonly known as “e-waste” (Xavier, Ottoni & Lepawsky, 2021). This is an emerging problem, with Australia as one of the most electronic products consumers (Islam & Iyer-Raniga, 2023). This emits more than 500000 tones of e-waste each year, which puts it among countries with the highest e-waste production per capita. There are low recycling levels and inadequate capacity to implement sustainable waste management as the problem escalates. Sometimes referred to as electronic waste, e-waste encompasses all manner of electronic devices, right from mobile phones to refrigerators (Pan, Wong, & Li, 2022).
These items include goods composed of valuable metals including gold and rare earth metals as well as other lethal metals including lead and mercury that are pernicious to life and health of human beings and the eco-system. Even more scandalously, as much as 80% of the Old Electric and Electronic Equipment or e-waste is buried in the landfill sites or, even worse, processed in informal sectors, which experiment with health-threatening techniques. On the other hand, circular economy presents an innovative solution to respond to this challenge. Whereas waste reduction in the traditional economy is achieved by elimination, disposal, or donation, the circular economy optimizes resource use through product recycling for reuse, repair, refurbishment, remanufacturing or recycling.
According to Engineers Australia (2024), engineers have a major task of developing new methods of sustainable recovery and regeneration of materials in production and use. Also, according to CSIRO, the application of circular economy principles can grow Australia economy because the value of these resources would be transformed into higher value products (CSIRO, 2024). This report will explore how Australia can leverage circular economy concepts to tackle its e-waste crisis. By addressing critical questions related to business models, technological innovations, and the challenges of implementing circular practices, the report provides actionable recommendations university assignment help to position Australia as a leader in sustainable e-waste management.
2. Research Questions to be addressed
To guide the exploration of e-waste management in Australia through the lens of the circular economy, the following research questions are addressed:
Research questions and issues related to business models
• Which existing business models promote the circular use of electronic resources, and how can they be adapted to the Australian context?
• What incentives are necessary to encourage circular economy practices across the lifecycle of electronic products?
• How can businesses ensure that circular economy principles are embedded in their supply chains, particularly for electronics?
Research questions and issues related to Technology
• What innovative technologies are available to facilitate the reuse and recycling of e-waste materials?
• What barriers hinder the adoption and scalability of these technologies in Australia, and what solutions can overcome these challenges?
3. Literature Review
3.1. Circular Business Models
Circular business models must be seen as a major revolution in the way how resources are used.
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Figure 1: Cyclic approach in the key aspects of Circular Economy
(Source: Kyriakopoulos, 2021).
These models compel organizations to move from the mostly used “take-make-dispose” system to a cyclic system (Kyriakopoulos, 2021). As a complex concept, circular business models involve reshaping production, distribution and consumption processes, within the scope of which economic growth is to be achieved without increasing resource throughput (Chad, 2023). This section will analyze key models PaaS, EPR etc. and will reflect on their applicability to Australia.
3.1.1. Product-as-a-Service (PaaS)
PaaS is one of the defining concepts of the circular economy and effectively shifts the traditional linear product sales model to a leasing or service delivery model (Hartley et al. 2023). Under PaaS, organizations own the products though they sell them to consumers in subscription-based or per usage model. This model encourages companies to produce products that are long-lasting, easily reusable, and disassemblable for recycling since their revenues depend on the longevity of product performance (Baniya, 2023).
Across the world presently, many firms for instance, Xerox and Philips have adopted the PaaS model. For example, Xerox to provide its clients with printers on a lease basis in addition to offering maintenance and recycling services. Likewise, Philips engages in lighting as a service, and guarantees that components get redeployed or disposed at the lifecycle’s end. These examples show that corporations worldwide can use PaaS to be sustainable and profitable at the same time (World Economic Forum, 2019).
Consequently, embracing of PaaS in the Australian region has the potential of reducing the e-waste level dramatically. With the use of leasing, telecommunications providers could lease smartphones and other similar gadgets under terms that such gadgets must be returned for replenishment or disposal. As the providers kept ownership of products returned, ‘useful’ materials could be extricated from the returned products to cut down on the reliance on these resources and help lessen waste in the process (Yu et al. 2022).
3.1.2. Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)
The policies known as Extended Producer Responsibility, obligate manufacturers to assume the cost of products throughout the post-consumer product life cycle (Compagnoni, 2022). This approach creates incentives to act in way that promotes adoption of eco-design that makes products easier to disassemble, upgrade, and recycle. EPR decentralizes the management of wastes, transfering the costs and responsibilities of waste management from consumers and government to producers which may create consumer incentives for sustainable solutions (Moradi et al. 2024).
The EPR is modelled on the European Union’s Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive. Based on this directive, manufacturers are required to take full responsibility in funding the collection, treatment and recycling of e-waste. This policy has informed enhancement of the recycling rate in Europe in accordance with the environmental status and recovery.
The capability of EPR in Australia in meeting the demand for e-waste solutions is enormous (Erdiaw-Kwasie, Abunyewah & Baah, 2024). Through the adoption of a coherent national EPR framework, state differences may hardly lead to inefficiencies in the recycling process. An ideal structure would therefore put pressure on manufacturers to incorporate environmentally sound design scheme and disposals thus making sure that the electronic products undergo the correct processes all through their life cycle.
However, the development of the sectors’ EPR policies for Australia needs to consider the specific obstacles of this country. Collection and disposal of e-waste remain problematic due to geographical size of Australia and unsystematic method of recycling all over the countries.
3.1.3. Trade-In and Buy-Back Programs
Trade-in and buy-back mechanisms are yet other elements of circular business models (Gunarathne, Kaluarachchilage & Rajasooriya, 2020). These programs encourage consumers to bring back used electronics by giving them a discount, money back or something else. The brought back items are either remanufactured for sale or stripped down for the recovery of materials.
Many companies such as Apple and Samsung have also proved the efficiency of trade-in programs. Apple’s Trade-In offers credit for old devices a the guarantee that all returned gadgets are either repaired and sold or recycled properly. Likewise, Samsung’s buy back programmes help customers return old devices which would otherwise contribute towards e waste.
In Australia, trade in and buyback programs could fill an important role in encouraging responsible consumer behavior (Aggeri, Micheaux & Ntsonde?, 2021). Extend of such programs in different categories of electronics like household appliances and personal gadgets would lower the quantities of e-waste that finds its way into the dumpsites. Retailers and manufacturers could coordinate, develop proper frameworks and requirements that would make the creation of accessible trade-in points possible that would be convenient for consumers at any given time.
3.2. Technological Innovations
Recycling is an achievement that can only be accomplished technologically in the context of circular economy for e-waste. New problem-solving technologies mean resource recycling, environmentally friendly procedures, and new notions of economic development. This section discusses probes into certain technologies such as artificial intelligence, recycling technologies, blockchain apart from reviewing the risks involved.
3.2.1. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Robotics
AI and robotic have brought positive changes in the management of e-waste since most of the activities that are carried out in this sector are automated such as sorting and disassembly (Noman et al. 2022). Automated image analysis technology can recognize and sort electronic components accurately and enhance the recycling plants.
AI and robotics could be taken up in Australia to overcome the drawbacks associate with manual recycling practices, which are cumbersome and less productive (Van Yken et al. 2021). The costs of initiating the aforementioned technologies are viewed as relatively high. The cost of these solutions could be partially covered by government subsidies and further development of P4P arrangements.
3.2.2. Advanced Recycling Methods
Refined recycling processes as hydrometallurgical and pyrometallurgical are considered as more efficient (Hossain & Sahajwalla, 2024). These techniques afford the potential to recycle and/or reclaim valuable metals including gold, silver, and palladium with little or no harm to the environment.
Today organizations such as the Umicore has developed sophisticated methods of e-waste recycling with the setting of factories that accord the best handling techniques. Similarly investing in such facilities may improve Australia’s ability to deal with e-waste in the most responsible manner. However, the scalability of these technologies still remains a problem given that some of the technologies have issues like high operation costs, and few workers with adequate technical skills.
3.2.3. Blockchain for Supply Chain Transparency
Blockchain has become one of the most significant technologies for improving supply chain transparency and building trust (Joshi, Sharma & Barve, 2023). This technology can also be applied with regard to environmental legislation and can thus also make the consumer a reliable stakeholder in environmental friendly practices. Blockchain adoption in Australia may help improve the code of conduct in manufacturers and recyclers implementing the circular economy for materials and products.
3.3. Challenges to Adoption
The development of innovative technologies is challenged by several factors in Australia (Hossain et al. 2022). Expenses associated with implementation of advanced solutions are high, there is scarce coverage of the solution, and the regulatory environment is not well standardized across the geographical location. However, absence of skilled labor especially in areas of robotics and chemical engineering provides a supreme problem.
Another, essential area is public awareness and education on the issues in question as a way of preventing resistance to adoption of new technologies. The public and organizations are still not aware of the opportunities offered by modern recycling technologies and what the utilization of technological solutions in the circular economy entails. Such gap could be closed through implementing strong comprehensive outreach and industry engagement programs which would promote culture of innovation and sustainability.
4. Recommendations for Australia
For Australia to move towards a circular economy for e-waste, there is need for polices reforms, incentives, technological developments and society engagement. For these change to take effect it calls for a change of culture of utilizing electronic resources in that there is a revolution from how the resources are preserved, processed, disseminated, archived and even disposed. In order to set up a policy system, implement laws and facilitate its governance at both the country and regional levels it becomes important to maintain a solid policy of core structure.
Financial strategies in the form of tax incentives together with grant funding may help companies and customers integrate environmentally friendly innovative concepts such as eco-design and recycling; on the other hand helpful trade-in programs and return schemes may be used to gain public support (Pan, Wong & Li, 2022). The technological aspect can be seen as the key driver of changing the approaches to recycling and improving the efficiency of the reconcentration processes with minimum waste output.
4.1. Policy Reforms
• Establish a National EPR Framework
Adoption of a mandatory EPR framework would ensure that manufacturers accepted the full responsibility for their products’ life-cycle. This kind of policy would open up a world of possibility to companies for sustainable design by forcing a company to pay for the collection and recycling of e-waste (Islam et al. 2021).
• Harmonize Recycling Regulations
Australia’s fragmented recycling policies create inefficiencies and inconsistencies. A unified national framework would streamline processes, enhance collaboration among stakeholders, and ensure equitable access to recycling services across the country.
The “fragmented recycling policies” in Australia leads to inefficient and incoherent solution for recycling. An “unified” national framework would lead to better coordination between the stakeholders.
4.2. Economic Incentives
• Provide Grants for Innovation
Grant for industries and research establishments can foster development of higher efficiency of recycling equipment (Van Yken et al. 2021). Many times, governments provide grants and subsidies to fund the overall cost of implementation and thus make these solutions affordable.
• Offer Tax Incentives for Sustainable Practices
Corporations engaging in fixing services or recycling facilities would be eligible for tax credits whereas consumers active in trade-in schemes would be allowed tax deductions.
4.3. Technological Investments
• Develop State-of-the-Art Recycling Facilities
E-waste has been increasing at a rapid rate, hence the need to develop new electronic recycling centres that can also incorporate artificial intelligence and robotics in order to enhance its scalability. Whatever facilities should be established should be placed in strategic points to reach both the urban and the rural areas.
• Promote Collaborative Research
In development of technological improvement in e-waste recycling, cooperation between universities and industries in collaboration with government bodies could be of great help (Moradi et al. 2024). Coordinative actions can also prove the viability of these technologies at large in order to get more investment.
4.4. Public Engagement
• Launch Nationwide Awareness Campaigns
The levels of public participation must have to be supplemented through focusing on the environmental and economical repercussions brought by the proper practice of recycling (Erdiaw-Kwasie, Abunyewah & Baah, 2024).
• Expand Collection Points
Setting up places for people to deliver the e-waste in urban, regional, and remote areas will go along way in promoting the right disposal of the substances. Supermarkets and shopping malls may act as drop-off locations where incentives for returned devices may be provided.
5. Conclusion
There is no doubt that the shift towards a circular economy is required in Australia, but at the same time, it is one more chance. As the nation focuses on these challenges of e-waste, innovative business models that employ advanced technologies, and sound policies soon deliver a sustainable way of managing the environmental impacts while creating a sustainable economic model.
This report has articulated the best strategies of applying circular economy model in e-waste management in Australia. It has captured foresight’s key issues, discussed various relevant strategies, and provided explicit first steps to their execution. By laying down substantive policies with collective support from Australian authorities, corporations and the public, this country has the potential to serve as a world model for sustainable developments to other countries.
6. References
Aggeri, F., Micheaux, H., & Ntsonde?, J. Special Issue 23| 2021 Industry and Waste: Toward the Circular Economy. Retrieved from: https://journals.openedition.org/factsreports/pdf/6474 [Retrieved on 22 November 2024]
Baniya, B. (2023). Circularity in facility management: conceptualisation and potential areas for circularity-oriented actions. Sustainability, 15(11), 8460. Retrieved from: https://doi.org/10.3390/su15118460 [Retrieved on 22 November 2024]
Chad, P. (2023). Rescuing unwanted household goods: Moving towards a circular economy. Australasian Marketing Journal, 31(4), 279-293. Retrieved from: https://doi.org/10.1177/1441358223116526 [Retrieved on 22 November 2024]
Compagnoni, M. (2022). Is Extended Producer Responsibility living up to expectations? A systematic literature review focusing on electronic waste. Journal of Cleaner Production, 367, 133101. Retrieved from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2022.133101 [Retrieved on 22 November 2024]
CSIRO, (2024). Circular economy and waste management. Retrieved from: https://www.csiro.au/en/Research/Environment/Circular- Economy#:~:text=For%20Australia%2C%20where%20currently%20the,%2C%20paper%2C%2 0glass%20and%20tyres[Retrieved on 22 November 2024]
Engineers Australia, (2024). Engineering and the circular economy. Retrieved from: https://www.engineersaustralia.org.au/Event/engineering-and- circular-economy [Retrieved on 23 November 2024]
Erdiaw-Kwasie, M. O., Abunyewah, M., & Baah, C. (2024). A systematic review of the factors–Barriers, drivers, and technologies–Affecting e-waste urban mining: On the circular economy future of developing countries. Journal of Cleaner Production, 140645. Retrieved from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2024.140645 [Retrieved on 22 November 2024]
Gunarathne, A. N., Kaluarachchilage, P. K. H., & Rajasooriya, S. M. (2020). Low-carbon consumer behaviour in climate-vulnerable developing countries: A case study of Sri Lanka. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 154, 104592. Retrieved from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2019.104592 [Retrieved on 23 November 2024]
Hartley, K., Schülzchen, S., Bakker, C. A., & Kirchherr, J. (2023). A policy framework for the circular economy: Lessons from the EU. Journal of Cleaner Production, 412, 137176. Retrieved from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2023.137176 [Retrieved on 23 November 2024]
Hossain, R., & Sahajwalla, V. (2024). Current recycling innovations to utilize e-waste in sustainable green metal manufacturing. Philosophical Transactions A, 382(2284), 20230239. Retrieved from: https://doi.org/10.1098/rsta.2023.0239 [Retrieved on 23 November 2024]
Hossain, R., Islam, M. T., Ghose, A., & Sahajwalla, V. (2022). Full circle: Challenges and prospects for plastic waste management in Australia to achieve circular economy. Journal of Cleaner Production, 368, 133127. Retrieved from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2022.133127 [Retrieved on 23 November 2024]
Islam, M. T., & Iyer-Raniga, U. (2023). Life cycle assessment of e-waste management system in Australia: Case of waste printed circuit board (PCB). Journal of Cleaner Production, 418, 138082. Retrieved from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2023.138082 [Retrieved on 22 November 2024]
Islam, M. T., Huda, N., Baumber, A., Shumon, R., Zaman, A., Ali, F., ... & Sahajwalla, V. (2021). A global review of consumer behavior towards e-waste and implications for the circular economy. Journal of Cleaner Production, 316, 128297. Retrieved from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.128297Get rights and content [Retrieved on 23 November 2024]
Joshi, S., Sharma, M., & Barve, A. (2023, January). Implementation Challenges of Blockchain technology in Closed-loop supply chain: A Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Management perspective in developing countries. In Supply Chain Forum: An International Journal (Vol. 24, No. 1, pp. 59-80). Taylor & Francis. Retrieved from: https://doi.org/10.1080/16258312.2022.2135972 [Retrieved on 23 November 2024]
Kyriakopoulos, G. L. (2021). Environmental legislation in european and international contexts: legal practices and social planning toward the circular economy. Laws, 10(1), 3. Retrieved from: https://doi.org/10.3390/laws10010003 [Retrieved on 23 November 2024]
Moradi, R., Yazdi, M., Haghighi, A., & Nedjati, A. (2024). Sustainable resilient E-waste management in London: A circular economy perspective. Heliyon, 10(13). Retrieved from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e34071 [Retrieved on 23 November 2024]
Noman, A. A., Akter, U. H., Pranto, T. H., & Haque, A. K. M. (2022). Machine learning and artificial intelligence in circular economy: a bibliometric analysis and systematic literature review. Annals of Emerging Technologies in Computing (AETiC), 6(2), 13-40. Retrieved from: http://aetic.theiaer.org/archive/v6/v6n2/p2.pdf [Retrieved on 23 November 2024]
Pan, X., Wong, C. W., & Li, C. (2022). Circular economy practices in the waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) industry: A systematic review and future research agendas. Journal of Cleaner Production, 365, 132671. Retrieved from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2022.132671 [Retrieved on 22 November 2024]
Van Yken, J., Boxall, N. J., Cheng, K. Y., Nikoloski, A. N., Moheimani, N. R., & Kaksonen, A. H. (2021). E-waste recycling and resource recovery: A review on technologies, barriers and enablers with a focus on oceania. Metals, 11(8), 1313. Retrieved from: https://doi.org/10.3390/met11081313 [Retrieved on 23 November 2024]
World Economic Forum. (2019, 24 January). A new circular vision for electronics, time for a global reboot. Retrieved from: https://www.weforum.org/reports/a-new-circular-vision- forelectronics-time-for-a-global-reboot[Retrieved on 22 November 2024]
Xavier, L. H., Ottoni, M., & Lepawsky, J. (2021). Circular economy and e-waste management in the Americas: Brazilian and Canadian frameworks. Journal of Cleaner Production, 297, 126570. Retrieved from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.126570 [Retrieved on 23 November 2024]
Yu, H. F., Hasanuzzaman, M., Rahim, N. A., Amin, N., & Nor Adzman, N. (2022). Global challenges and prospects of photovoltaic materials disposal and recycling: A comprehensive review. Sustainability, 14(14), 8567. Retrieved from: https://doi.org/10.3390/su14148567 [Retrieved on 23 November 2024]
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