Applying the Circular Footprint Formula to Electric and Electronic Equipment to Deepen the Detail of End of Life Phase Modelling
摘要
The rapid growth of waste from electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) poses significant environmental challenges. Efficient management of WEEE is critical for minimizing environmental harm and recovering valuable secondary raw materials. This study compares two alternatives end-of-life (EoL) modeling approaches in a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) study to identify the applicability and consequences on results related to Circular Footprint Formula (CFF) implementation. The CFF explicitly incorporates circular economy principles by accounting for recycling, reuse, and energy recovery in a standardized way. Results demonstrate how the composition of the product, applying CFF approach, can lead to a substantial reduction in environmental impacts compared to the traditional EoL modeling methods in LCA. Sensitivity analysis highlights the importance of key CFF parameters, such as recycling rates and allocation factors in influencing results. The study underscores the relevance of adopting advanced modeling methods like CFF to enhance the accuracy and transparency of environmental assessments for WEEE, supporting sustainable product design and policy development.