Circularity in focus: This is how NRW is revolutionizing product development!

Circularity in focus: This is how NRW is revolutionizing product development!

Companies are increasingly facing pressure to adapt their production processes to sustainability standards. Regulations, increasing customer demands and environmental requirements are forcing many to redesign their value creation. In this context, the **circular economy** is considered a future-oriented approach to reducing resource consumption and recycling products. As part of the “ZirkuPro” research project, funded by the University of Paderborn in cooperation with the Fraunhofer Institutes IEM and IZM, a structured process model was developed that supports companies in circular product development. University of Paderborn reports that This model includes phases that enable efficient, transparent and controllable design of processes.

A central component of the project is a comprehensive method kit that supports companies in the development and implementation of recyclable products. The focus here is particularly on electronics and critical material combinations such as rare earths, which are important in industry. The project was financially supported over three years with around three million euros from the Ministry of Economics, Innovation, Digitalization and Energy of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia. The main goal is to conserve resources and minimize waste by creating closed loops.

Five phases of circular product creation

ZirkuPro's process model is divided into five clear phases. These are:

• **Initiierung** – Grundlagen für zirkuläre Produktentstehung schaffen.
• **Potenzialfindung** – Identifikation von Optimierungsmöglichkeiten zur Steigerung der Zirkularität.
• **Lösungskonzipierung** – Entwicklung konkreter Maßnahmen zur Umsetzung.
• **Evaluierung** – Bewertung der Lösungen unter ökonomischen, ökologischen und sozialen Aspekten.
• **Implementierung** – Einführung der evaluierten Lösungen in die Praxis.

Each phase includes defined activities and milestones that aim to successfully achieve goals. The method kit contains a total of 21 methods that are based on research and interviews with experts. These are categorized according to life cycle phases and objectives and offer companies the opportunity to specifically select and apply the methods that are right for them. A presentation of these approaches can be found at ITS OWL.

Achievements and future outlook

A successful example of implementation is CP contech electronic GmbH, which implemented out-of-the-box methods and was thus able to significantly increase circularity in its product development process. The project encouraged numerous companies to systematically address circularity and make progress towards sustainability. Eww highlights the economic opportunities of the circular economy and emphasizes the importance of a sustainable, climate-neutral future. Resources are conserved, CO₂ emissions are reduced and innovative business models are created from which companies benefit in the long term.

To further support these developments, interested companies can contact Julia Marie Vehmeyer from the Heinz Nixdorf Institute. The current progress in the area of ​​circular product creation clearly shows that a systematic approach to the circular economy is essential for the future.