The Circular Industries Talks are organized every second Wednesday at the Circular Industries Hub. In this edition, Meihui Jiang, PhD candidate at Rotterdam School of Management (Erasmus University Rotterdam) expands on Circular Business Models in the electronics industry, in her talk, titled: Redesign the Innovation Ecosystem to Circularity: An Embedded Case Study of the Dutch Microelectronics Industry. Curious for more? Take a look at the recording at the bottom of this page.
“Circularity is a collective industry responsibility that demands collaboration and joint efforts. In the electronics industry, where innovation and technology thrive, Circular Business Models (CBMs) prove pivotal, offering a transformative pathway towards circularity. Embracing innovative redesigning of the ecosystem stands as an approach, fostering collaboration among stakeholders for circular value creation in the industry.”
Through our case study of the Dutch microelectronics industry, we investigated existing and planned CBMs that 18 different stakeholders (microchips manufacturers, component manufacturers, electronics manufacturers, repair service providers, waste collectors, WEEE recyclers and metal recyclers) in the value chain use and summarized dominant drivers and barriers for the industry to achieve circularity. The companies in the Dutch microelectronics ecosystem demonstrate a rich variety of CBMs, showcasing a commitment to sustainability. Strategies encompass servitization models, circular product design, reuse, repair, remanufacturing, refurbishment, and recycling initiatives. Innovative CBMs include managed services, subscription-based services, non-ownership models, remanufacturing on demand, and customized closed-loop relationships, contributing to resource efficiency and reduced environmental impact. The identified drivers for circularity, gleaned from expert interviews, highlight legislative influence, market demand for circular products, and advancements in recycling technologies. However, barriers such as cost challenges, supply chain complexities, and regulatory issues present significant challenges. Overcoming challenges requires collaborative efforts and information transparency within the innovation ecosystem.
In conclusion, redesigning the ecosystem for circularity demands a holistic, collaborative effort within the innovation ecosystem. By leveraging interconnectedness, collaborative dynamics, and knowledge exchange, advocating for extended producer responsibility within the collaborative networks of the innovation ecosystem, the industry can effectively implement circular strategies, contributing to a sustainable and resource-efficient future. Legislation to support and incentivize circular practices and regulate unsustainable operations is also needed to create an encouraging environment for circularity.
Curious about the whole story? Listen to Meihui in the Circular Industries talks.
The Circular Industries talks
The goal of the Circular Industries talks is to share knowledge across Leiden, Delft and Erasmus and to complement and deepen the knowledge already available within the Circular Industries Hub. The talks are organized on Wednesday morning from 10:00 to 11:00. The talks are online (Microsoft Teams).