Chapter 6: Sustainable PLM

Title: Life cycle management of secondary resources - sustainable resource for new products

Author(s): Alexandra Pehlken, André Decker, Klaus-Dieter Thoben

Address: BIK – Institut für integrierte Produktentwicklung, Bremen University, Badgasteinerstr. 1, 28359 Bremen, Germany | BIK – Institut für integrierte Produktentwicklung, Bremen University, Badgasteinerstr. 1, 28359 Bremen, Germany | BIK – Institut für integrierte Produktentwicklung, Bremen University, Badgasteinerstr. 1, 28359 Bremen, Germany

Reference: International Conference on Product Lifecycle Management 2010 pp. 300 - 307

Abstract/Summary: Since our raw materials as resource for many production processes are mainly limited our main resource is our (future) stock of secondary raw materials in infrastructure, industry and at consumers. Dumping secondary raw materials is already forbidden by legislation in Europe and the recycling technique is improving. During recycling processes the knowledge of the quantity and quality of material flows is essential for the assessment of the environmental process performance. The combination of material flow assessment (MFA) and life cycle assessment (LCA) may help to improve sustainable product lifecycle management (PLM) and makes environmental decision making easier. There is high data uncertainty interpreting the results of MFA and LCA in the context of recycling and the further use of secondary raw materials has to improve. This implies that the goal of material management has to be more clearly defined. A good material management of recycling processes may guarantee a sustainable feedstock of secondary resources.

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