Circular Electronics of the Future

Making the life cycle of electronics more circular

Endlessly using natural resources for electronic products we use is not possible anymore. Electronic products exist of many materials. Therefore, many actors related to the life cycle of these products have to take their responsibility in reducing the impact electronics have on the environment. To enhance the efficiency of the use of the resources used for electronic product, multiple actors must collaborate in co-developing solutions to close cycles and make electronics more circular.

National as well as regional public policies pay more and more attention to the circular economy. The Dutch national government has developed policy and action plans to ensure in 2030 50% less use of primary natural resources with a full circular economy in 2050. But how can the region of Nijmegen contribute to closing loops in the life cycle of electronic products? What can the different actors in the region do to make this happen?

Client
The circular board of the Nijmegen region aims to initiate, stimulate, and motivate circular initiatives. One of these initiatives is the Electronics Hub, which is the client for this think tank. The Electronics Hub was developed by waste treatment company Dar in collaboration with Road2 Work NL, producer organization Wecycle/Stichting Open and others. The aim of the Electronics Hub is to start closing cycles in the life cycle of electronics.

Assignment
The Electronics Hub needs advice on how they can make a next step in making electronics in the Nijmegen region even more circular. In this think tank you will conduct regional research (in consultation with Wecycle/Stichting Open) into the points of sale of electronic waste, to see how cooperation between various stakeholders can be strengthened. Furthermore, you can focus your research on the business community/industry, in other words, the parties that need to get rid of their electronic waste.

Kick-off weekend
The kick-off weekend of this think tank will be on 28 and 29 January 2022 in the Huissen Monestary. During this weekend, we will visit Dar and Road2Work to get to know the Electronics Hub. The kick-off weekend is a mandatory part of the think tank.

Weekly meetings
After the kick-off, weekly meetings will take place on Thursdays from 18.30-20.30. The supervisors are present every other week.

Study trip
During the 4-day study trip in the spring of 2022 (exact date will be determined in consultation with the group), we will visit exemplary organizations of closing cycles in the different life cycle stages of electronics like the Philips campus in Eindhoven and the Umicore plant in Hoboken, Belgium.

Supervisors
Sjors Witjes, Associate Professor Strategic Management
Floor Binkhorst, programme coordinator RHA