Opportunities and challenges to increase circularity in the product's use phase

The circular economy (CE) seeks to optimize the use of natural resources and to allow sustainable production processes to work in a closed-loop system. Each product's life cycle phase must be analyzed from the CE perspective in a production environment. Although the use phase is significant in...

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Main Authors: Silvana Bárbara Gonçalves da Silva, Murillo Vetroni Barros, João Ângelo Zacharias Radicchi, Fabio Neves Puglieri, Cassiano Moro Piekarski
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2024-12-01
Series:Sustainable Futures
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666188824001461
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author Silvana Bárbara Gonçalves da Silva
Murillo Vetroni Barros
João Ângelo Zacharias Radicchi
Fabio Neves Puglieri
Cassiano Moro Piekarski
author_facet Silvana Bárbara Gonçalves da Silva
Murillo Vetroni Barros
João Ângelo Zacharias Radicchi
Fabio Neves Puglieri
Cassiano Moro Piekarski
author_sort Silvana Bárbara Gonçalves da Silva
collection DOAJ
description The circular economy (CE) seeks to optimize the use of natural resources and to allow sustainable production processes to work in a closed-loop system. Each product's life cycle phase must be analyzed from the CE perspective in a production environment. Although the use phase is significant in terms of environmental impact, it faces challenges and opportunities that must be explored. The objectives of this study are (i) to identify the main guidelines companies can implement to increase circularity in the product's use phase and (ii) to outline the existing opportunities and challenges to increase circularity in the product's use phase. The study identified guidelines related to CE practices in the product's use phase that companies can adopt, which were categorized into 15 key areas: reuse, reverse logistics, resources, marketing, contract, systems, tools, and others. Furthermore, it highlighted opportunities to improve the relationship between companies and consumers, such has expanding product-service systems and connecting them to EC coverage levels. The research also recognized challenges that impede the effective implementation of CE in the use phase, such as the packaging sector, electrical and electronics sector, durability of products, need for different players, the importance of top management, CE level approach, renting as a business model, remanufacturing and reprocessing of electronic equipment and engines, options to sell products in bulk and raising people's awareness of the importance of CE throughout the product's life cycle. The research shows concluded that the guidelines found can facilitate the transition to CE, actively involving users and using existing methodologies and tools.
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spelling doaj-art-710573aa83284bc89fb94630d3233a0a2025-08-20T02:49:01ZengElsevierSustainable Futures2666-18882024-12-01810029710.1016/j.sftr.2024.100297Opportunities and challenges to increase circularity in the product's use phaseSilvana Bárbara Gonçalves da Silva0Murillo Vetroni Barros1João Ângelo Zacharias Radicchi2Fabio Neves Puglieri3Cassiano Moro Piekarski4Universidade Tecnológica Federal do Paraná (UTFPR), R. Dep. Heitor Alencar Furtado, 5000, Ecoville, Curitiba, PR 81280-340, Brazil; Corresponding author.Universidade Estadual do Paraná (UNESPAR), R. Comendador Correia Júnior, 117, Centro, Paranaguá, PR 83203-560, BrazilUniversidade Tecnológica Federal do Paraná (UTFPR), Av. Monteiro Lobato, Km 4, s/n, Jardim Carvalho, Ponta Grossa, PR 84016-210, BrazilUniversidade Tecnológica Federal do Paraná (UTFPR), Av. Monteiro Lobato, Km 4, s/n, Jardim Carvalho, Ponta Grossa, PR 84016-210, BrazilUniversidade Tecnológica Federal do Paraná (UTFPR), Av. Monteiro Lobato, Km 4, s/n, Jardim Carvalho, Ponta Grossa, PR 84016-210, BrazilThe circular economy (CE) seeks to optimize the use of natural resources and to allow sustainable production processes to work in a closed-loop system. Each product's life cycle phase must be analyzed from the CE perspective in a production environment. Although the use phase is significant in terms of environmental impact, it faces challenges and opportunities that must be explored. The objectives of this study are (i) to identify the main guidelines companies can implement to increase circularity in the product's use phase and (ii) to outline the existing opportunities and challenges to increase circularity in the product's use phase. The study identified guidelines related to CE practices in the product's use phase that companies can adopt, which were categorized into 15 key areas: reuse, reverse logistics, resources, marketing, contract, systems, tools, and others. Furthermore, it highlighted opportunities to improve the relationship between companies and consumers, such has expanding product-service systems and connecting them to EC coverage levels. The research also recognized challenges that impede the effective implementation of CE in the use phase, such as the packaging sector, electrical and electronics sector, durability of products, need for different players, the importance of top management, CE level approach, renting as a business model, remanufacturing and reprocessing of electronic equipment and engines, options to sell products in bulk and raising people's awareness of the importance of CE throughout the product's life cycle. The research shows concluded that the guidelines found can facilitate the transition to CE, actively involving users and using existing methodologies and tools.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666188824001461Circular economyUse phaseProduct developmentCircularity
spellingShingle Silvana Bárbara Gonçalves da Silva
Murillo Vetroni Barros
João Ângelo Zacharias Radicchi
Fabio Neves Puglieri
Cassiano Moro Piekarski
Opportunities and challenges to increase circularity in the product's use phase
Sustainable Futures
Circular economy
Use phase
Product development
Circularity
title Opportunities and challenges to increase circularity in the product's use phase
title_full Opportunities and challenges to increase circularity in the product's use phase
title_fullStr Opportunities and challenges to increase circularity in the product's use phase
title_full_unstemmed Opportunities and challenges to increase circularity in the product's use phase
title_short Opportunities and challenges to increase circularity in the product's use phase
title_sort opportunities and challenges to increase circularity in the product s use phase
topic Circular economy
Use phase
Product development
Circularity
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666188824001461
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AT fabionevespuglieri opportunitiesandchallengestoincreasecircularityintheproductsusephase
AT cassianomoropiekarski opportunitiesandchallengestoincreasecircularityintheproductsusephase