Recycling E-Waste Into Value: High-Tech Sustainability Reimagined

With the rapid growth of the e-waste stream and electronics replacements, high-tech manufacturers are urged to transform their operations for better waste management and more sustainable products and supply chains.

Some countries, like France, have introduced the repairability index, which requires stores to display products’ repair scores and information. This index signals an intensified commitment to sustainable practices by encouraging consumers to choose more repairable products.

To respond effectively to the repairability index and other sustainability initiatives worldwide, manufacturers need to rethink their strategy and be guided by data to make the right decisions every time. Only then can they better manage the complexity and business risks from sustainability-focused regulations and consumer demand.

To begin reducing the e-waste stream and delivering sustainable electronics, manufacturers can rely on an integrated platform to create and explore a detailed virtual twin of their physical world.

Such a platform enables manufacturers to make optimized decisions to go beyond e-waste recycling and advance the following goals for greener outcomes:

• Regulatory compliance
  Controlling costs and risks associated with regulations requires manufacturers to align with key directives that include Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE), Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) and Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC).
  
  A platform that integrates the entire product lifecycle will help manufacturers adhere to dynamic regulatory compliance by enabling smart material choices, collaboration, traceability and scalability to easily incorporate evolving requirements.
   
• Zero-waste design and manufacturing
  Traditional product design and manufacturing processes are typically carried out in silos and rely on physical prototypes to finalize a decision.
  
  Through virtual simulation technology, manufacturers can design devices for better reuse across multiple lifecycles. They’re able to swiftly assess and increase a product’s durability and recyclability by running its virtual twin through a wide range of simulated settings, from assembly and disassembly processes to product structures, drop tests and the use of new materials. Manufacturers can ensure first-time-right production results using a virtual twin of their manufacturing operations to determine the optimal production configuration.
   
• Efficient product recovery
  With a platform that provides the virtual twin as a complete information model, manufacturers can implement steps to increase product repair, recycling and reuse.
  
  The virtual twin brings together data from different product lifecycle stages and the platform, in turn, enables optimized decision-making between internal and external stakeholders based on the aggregated data. The virtual twin also helps accelerate the recycling process by providing end-to-end product information, allowing recyclers to implement efficient reverse manufacturing strategies that minimize tests and inspection.

The 3DEXPERIENCE® platform is the model-based and data-driven collaboration platform that supports high-tech manufacturers to deliver sustainable value beyond improving e-waste management.

On this platform, manufacturers can create an accurate virtual twin of their operations and conduct multiscale and multiphysics simulations to assess their decisions’ environmental impact. This allows manufacturers to identify risks earlier, ensure a higher manufacturing yield, minimize greenhouse gas emissions and leverage data for increased repair, recycling and reuse rates.

The intelligent platform also incorporates a compliance management capability, enabling manufacturers to access product information that includes components’ breakdown and the chemical substance formulation of each material of construction. Manufacturers can compare the data to industry regulations and be alerted if a material or component is not compliant with regulations in a certain part of the world.

Supported by the 3DEXPERIENCE platform and its suite of powerful capabilities, manufacturers can contribute toward a more sustainable high-tech industry — not only through e-waste recycling but also durable and repairable devices, waste-free operations and carbon footprint reduction.