Enabling Circular Value Chains Through Data

DATA4CIRC is at the forefront of using data to power circular manufacturing. With a consortium of 13 partners across 8 countries and a unique collaboration with Japan, the project is implementing digital solutions to enhance environmental performance in manufacturing.

Key innovations include:

• Integrating environmental data into decision-making.
• Building the foundation for Digital Product Passports (DPP).
• Demonstrating applications across three value chains: recycling agricultural plastics, remanufacturing electronics, and refurbishing catalytic converters.

Circular Solutions for Photovoltaic Systems

CIRCMAN5.0 tackles the urgent issue of solar panel waste by creating closed-loop systems for photovoltaic manufacturing. Spanning 19 partners and 9 countries, the project combines AI-driven design, circular economy principles, and digital twins to:

• Forecast environmental impacts.
• Support sustainable design choices.
• Validate innovations across four pilot sites covering all lifecycle phases of PV systems.

Designing the Circular Future of Automotive Casting

Digi4Circular focuses on circular product development in the automotive sector, particularly aluminum casting. Through machine learning and lifecycle data integration, it enables:

• Predictive material modeling.
• Environmental impact analysis.
• Compliance with EU regulations.

The platform streamlines workflows to reduce emissions and improve resource efficiency without compromising performance or cost.

Building the IIoT Backbone for Circular Manufacturing

ENCIRCLE is developing a smart Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) framework to support circularity. It includes:

• Digital Twins for real-time simulation.
• Reinforcement learning for optimized production.
• Augmented reality interfaces and blockchain for traceability.

These technologies converge to reduce emissions and facilitate the implementation of trustworthy DPPs.

Optimizing Additive Manufacturing with Green Engineering

GEAR-UP develops tools to manage variability in recycled materials and enhance additive manufacturing outcomes. It focuses on:

• Combining AI with lifecycle assessments.
• Optimizing production processes.
• Reducing defects and waste.

Case studies cover fiber-reinforced polymers, recycled aluminum, and specialized industrial components.

Creating a Digital Passport for Product-Service Systems

PSS-Pass supports sustainable manufacturing by merging products and services into unified systems tracked with a Digital Product Service System Passport (DPSSP). The project uses:

• Machine learning and digital twins for performance monitoring.
• Blockchain for transparency and traceability.
• Real-world pilots to validate outcomes across sectors.