Interested in the Metric Tool?

The reuse and recycling metric tool described by the presentations and articles below is being developed for industry use.  Please click here if you would like to be a beta tester to help us ensure this tool meets industry needs, or if you are interested in using the tool once development is completed. If you have any questions, please email project manager Mark Schaffer (marks@inemi.org).

End-of-Project Webinar

The project team held its end-of-project webinar January 23 & 23, 2019. Click here to access the following webinar materials:

• Presentation
• Link to webinar recording
• Project summary/report
• FAQ

About the Project 

This metric can be used to assess the end-of-life impacts at the design and material choice stage in product development such that manufacturers can make more informed decisions before a product is ever actually manufactured. The metric tool examines not only the impact of design choice and the material selection but also the economic value of what can be recovered (from reuse or recycling). The recovery readiness in the regions of the world where products are being sold is also part of the metric — you can have an excellent product design but if the region where the product is sold has no way of recovering the product, the manufacturer should be aware of that.
 

Presentations & Publications

• A Practical Means for Assessing Circular Economic Value of an ICT Product, presented by Mark Schaffer (iNEMI), 2019 MRS Spring Meeting (April 24; Phoenix, Arizona).  
• A Practical Means for Assessing Circular Economic Value of an ICT Product, presented by Lisa Dender (IBM), Going Green - CARE Innovation 2018; November 26-29, 2019 (Vienna, Austria).
• Reuse and Recycling Metric Project Summary — Phase 2, presented by Lisa Dender (IBM), Electronics Reuse Conference (ERC), October 29, 2018 (Nashville, Tennessee U.S.A.).
• Article: “Value Assessment,” Wayne Rifer, E-Scrap News, Fall 2018, pp. 58-62.
• Presentation: Mid-project webinar (December 5, 2017)
• Call for Participation Webinar Presentation ( (April 28, 2016)
  Recording (46 min)

Project Statement and Statement of Work

• Project Statement (Version 1.0; March 17, 2016)
• Statement of Work (Version 1.1; March 17, 2016)

Background

• A mass based reusability and recyclability rate:
  • Depends on data which is not readily available (BoM, RRR rates)
  • Does not specify the costs/revenues of reuse and recycling
  • Does not specify the ability to practically separate and liberate the components and materials

Project Objectives

• Identify design measure to improve material choice, material and component liberation (materials + liberation + circular economy impacts)
• Identify product-related cost factors influencing economic feasibility of reuse and recycling
• Identify weighing factors
• Get ahead of regulation
• Develop a metric system that can be applied to different electronic products

Project Focus

• To develop a scoring system (qualitative/semi-quantitative) which assesses the ability – economic feasibility and physical practicality – to separate and liberate the materials from ICT products (product category specific).
• To develop a weighing factor which quantifies the quality of the reused and recycled materials (exergy, cumulated energy demand, price, environmental impact).
• To develop a product end of life value score (includes reuse and recycling) – 3 tier scope of material choice, product design and regional recovery factors (what is the net value of the design/material and need choices).
• Investigate and engage with key standards or similar organizations to promote the use of our findings.

Previous Phase

• Repair and Recycling Metrics

For Additional Information