Digitized Circular Economy Future Lab

Transition from a linear economy to a circular economy

Rising global consumption of finite resources, CO₂ reduction targets, and conflicts over the distribution of critical raw materials are challenging industrial production in Lower Saxony to transition from the linear economy it has operated under to a circular economy. This requires products to be used longer, components to be remanufactured, and materials to be recycled.

Three cycles as the basis for circular value creation

The goal of the Circular Economy Future Lab is to promote this transformation from a linear to a circular economic model. The focus is on three interconnected cycles:

• Extending service life through sharing, reuse, or product-as-a-service models
• Refurbishing components through refurbishment or remanufacturing
• Recovery of materials through sorting and recycling processes at the end of a product's service life and that of its components

Digital technologies such as AI-supported automation and digital marketplaces support these processes and are therefore a central research task in the Future Lab. Fraunhofer IST develops innovative cleaning technologies specifically for the reprocessing of components and validates them in the Open Hybrid LabFactory's real-world laboratory together with partners.

Sustainable innovations for the industry of tomorrow

The project contributes to resource conservation and emission reduction by developing economically viable concepts for a circular economy. The results provide practical solutions for industry and promote the implementation of circular processes. The findings will be incorporated into future research and transfer projects to further advance the transformation of industrial production.