A product’s route after its first use is influenced by how it was designed and assembled. Material combinations, fasteners, documentation and access to replacement parts can make repair or recovery easier—or harder.
Start with a defined route
Distinguish between keeping a product in service, refurbishing a component and recovering raw material. Each route has different requirements. Decide which one is realistic for the product, its users and the systems available to collect it.
Connect design with production
Discuss disassembly with the teams responsible for assembly, service and quality. A change that simplifies repair must still meet the product’s safety, durability and performance needs. Record the trade-offs rather than assuming every redesign delivers an environmental benefit.
Make information available
Clear part identification and service documentation help teams understand what can be replaced and how. Materials information can support recovery decisions where suitable facilities exist.
Assess the full route, including transport, cleaning, testing and rejected material. Circularity is most credible when there is an operating system behind the claim and a way to measure what happens to the product.
An original design and operations explainer, rather than a claim about any specific manufacturer’s environmental performance.