Abstract for: Circular Economy scenarios in the Electrical and Electronic Equipment industry

The increasing demand for resources requires a systemic transition to the Circular Economy (CE). The Electrical and Electronic Equipment (EEE) industry is one of the industries requiring CE policies implementation. The goal of this research is to provide a simulation model that enables gaining knowledge of the effects of CE strategies implementation on nation-wide stocks and flows of EEE. The Circular EEE SD Model is developed based on knowledge from dynamic Material Flow Analysis (MFA), reliability engineering, and closed-loop supply chain areas. The adoption of Flat Display Panel TVs in the Netherlands is verified using data from publicly available sources. The stocks and flows of resources are demonstrated in scenarios of varying levels of second use, repairing, remanufacturing, and recycling infrastructures; and varying product lifetimes. Although full eco-economic decoupling was not achieved in any scenario, some CE strategies lead to better results. The Circular EEE SD Model enables decision-makers to create what-if scenarios where they can test their assumptions about the effects of CE policies before implementation.