3
Contemporary Machining Processes
compared to the production of the same goods in the traditional linear model. The
strong contribution to CO 2 emission reductions will positively affect climate change.
In economic terms, major benefits for manufacturers cover the reduction of material and energy costs and of EoL material disposal costs. As a result, a general
product price reduction of around 25–30% is possible, which, in turn, can boost the
availability of high-quality affordable products, ensuring the increase of business
competitiveness in emerging markets. In social terms, such benefits are expected
of circular economy businesses as new jobs emerging from boosting consumption
of sustainable products driven by lower prices (Tolio et al., 2017). The ratiocinating
trend indicates that in the nearest future, greener technology that reduces wastage
and reproduction, saves energy and the environment, and is easy to adopt is going to
dominate (Jhavar et al., 2016).
Having the above-mentioned issues in mind, worldwide political and research
agendas have started promoting CE strategies. In 2005, the G7 Summit Declaration
of June 2015 issued the “Alliance on Resource Efficiency” document, while the
European Commission launched the strategic initiative “Closing the Loop – An EU
Action Plan for the Circular Economy.” Since 2006, circular economy initiatives
have been promoted in the Chinese “Five Year Plan” of development, and similar
initiatives have been launched in the United States, Japan, and Australia (Tolio et al.,
2017). However, at least three perspectives should be considered, namely, government policies, enterprises, and public awareness. Policies and regulations related to
remanufacturing are elaborated, then advanced remanufacturing technologies are
implemented by leading remanufacturing enterprises and national industrial parks,
but public awareness on remanufacturing and citizens’ participation in the environmental activities, both of which are beneficial to policy formulation and implementation, are or no less importance (Cao et al., 2020).
The European Remanufacturing Network is a pan-European project aimed at
understanding and promoting the 6R practices, especially remanufacturing in the
EU. On its website, remanufacturing activities are explained in the following way
(Remanufacture, 2021):
• To return a used product to at least its original performance with a warranty
that is equivalent to or better than that of a newly manufactured product.
• Involves dismantling a product, restoring and replacing components, and
testing individual parts and whole product to ensure that it is within its
original design specifications.
• From a customer viewpoint, a remanufactured product can be considered
the same as a new product.
• Subsequent warranty is generally at least equal to that of a new product.
• Performance after remanufacture is expected to be at least equal to original
performance specifications.
Place of remanufacturing in the life cycle of a product is shown in Figure 1.1.
Tolio et al. (2017), emphasize that sustainable transition to circular economy businesses will need to be supported with fundamental innovations in the manufacturing
Contemporary Machining Processes
compared to the production of the same goods in the traditional linear model. The
strong contribution to CO 2 emission reductions will positively affect climate change.
In economic terms, major benefits for manufacturers cover the reduction of material and energy costs and of EoL material disposal costs. As a result, a general
product price reduction of around 25–30% is possible, which, in turn, can boost the
availability of high-quality affordable products, ensuring the increase of business
competitiveness in emerging markets. In social terms, such benefits are expected
of circular economy businesses as new jobs emerging from boosting consumption
of sustainable products driven by lower prices (Tolio et al., 2017). The ratiocinating
trend indicates that in the nearest future, greener technology that reduces wastage
and reproduction, saves energy and the environment, and is easy to adopt is going to
dominate (Jhavar et al., 2016).
Having the above-mentioned issues in mind, worldwide political and research
agendas have started promoting CE strategies. In 2005, the G7 Summit Declaration
of June 2015 issued the “Alliance on Resource Efficiency” document, while the
European Commission launched the strategic initiative “Closing the Loop – An EU
Action Plan for the Circular Economy.” Since 2006, circular economy initiatives
have been promoted in the Chinese “Five Year Plan” of development, and similar
initiatives have been launched in the United States, Japan, and Australia (Tolio et al.,
2017). However, at least three perspectives should be considered, namely, government policies, enterprises, and public awareness. Policies and regulations related to
remanufacturing are elaborated, then advanced remanufacturing technologies are
implemented by leading remanufacturing enterprises and national industrial parks,
but public awareness on remanufacturing and citizens’ participation in the environmental activities, both of which are beneficial to policy formulation and implementation, are or no less importance (Cao et al., 2020).
The European Remanufacturing Network is a pan-European project aimed at
understanding and promoting the 6R practices, especially remanufacturing in the
EU. On its website, remanufacturing activities are explained in the following way
(Remanufacture, 2021):
• To return a used product to at least its original performance with a warranty
that is equivalent to or better than that of a newly manufactured product.
• Involves dismantling a product, restoring and replacing components, and
testing individual parts and whole product to ensure that it is within its
original design specifications.
• From a customer viewpoint, a remanufactured product can be considered
the same as a new product.
• Subsequent warranty is generally at least equal to that of a new product.
• Performance after remanufacture is expected to be at least equal to original
performance specifications.
Place of remanufacturing in the life cycle of a product is shown in Figure 1.1.
Tolio et al. (2017), emphasize that sustainable transition to circular economy businesses will need to be supported with fundamental innovations in the manufacturing