Circular Economy: From Manufacturing Waste to Resource Materials

Entering the circular economy is the pinnacle of sustainable manufacturing. Guided by this approach, manufacturers can reduce waste in manufacturing and increase the amount of product waste that can be recycled.

“More manufacturers are now aware that the linear approach no longer works in the long run. To continue being relevant in the industry, unlock new growth opportunities and contribute toward a sustainable future for all, they need to think circular,” said Lucas Florez, a Sustainability Industry Process Expert at Dassault Systèmes.

The transition to a circular economy can begin with optimized manufacturing waste management, and there’s no better time for manufacturers to take action. The Ellen MacArthur Foundation estimated that if the manufacturing industry were to align with circular principles, it could save up to US$630 billion a year on raw materials in the EU alone.

Achieving resource efficiency and a circular economy in practice, though, is a monumental challenge; most manufacturers today still lack sufficient visibility into their operations and extended value network.

The challenge of implementing a circular economy approach essentially boils down to an information problem, and this is because manufacturers’ and other stakeholders’ information is siloed and scattered everywhere,” said Lucas.

To begin overcoming this information disconnect and optimizing waste management, manufacturers can rely on the following three pillars:

• Pillar 1: End-to-end visibility

Manufacturers need to bring people and information together in a connected digital platform for end-to-end visibility, which guides them to transform scrap into raw materials that can be used elsewhere in their operations.

• Pillar 2: Lifecycle assessment

To deliver more products that can be recycled and reused, manufacturers must rely on lifecycle assessment. It’s a methodology for measuring a product’s overall environmental impact on energy consumption, materials and emissions.

• Pillar 3: First-time-right manufacturing

When manufacturers can link and analyze their information, it becomes easier to detect potential issues during the product design phase and improve manufacturing yield

“If manufacturers can integrate their operations, they will gain the visibility to enable a closed-loop production system where waste can always be converted into resource materials,” said Bertrand Lacoste Bourgeacq, an Industry Solution Technical Engineer at Dassault Systèmes.

Here’s where the 3DEXPERIENCE® platform delivers value. It helps manufacturers make better-informed decisions to reap the benefits of a circular economy, which is made possible with digital capabilities that include:

• Value network integration

The platform links all value network contributors in an integrated environment, providing end-to-end visibility to make decisions that reduce waste in manufacturing.

• Virtual simulation

The platform’s virtual simulation technology enables manufacturers to find sustainable and cost-effective materials while minimizing physical testing and waste.

• Information intelligence

By incorporating predictive analytics, the platform helps manufacturers improve product quality and minimize scrap through the early detection of non-conformities.

The 3DEXPERIENCE platform hosts the right technologies for optimized waste management in a connected environment, enabling manufacturers to better contribute towards sustainability and a circular economy.