Increasing circularity of high-tech products by multi-stakeholder value optimisation

Countries are increasingly seeking access to reliable, secure and resilient supplies of the critical minerals they need. High technology products including EU critical raw materials (CRMs) are not efficiently recycled and their lifetime can be relatively short. This paper explores new sustainable value creation models in cities for increasing the circularity of selected high technology products containing CRMs. The focus in this paper is on CRMs in smart buildings and their renewable energy solutions. The aim is to provide insights for improving the resilience of critical raw materials and to generate proposals for sustainable value for involved private and public stakeholders. It includes mapping the value chains of selected CRMs containing products and based on the 9R framework (Refuse, Rethink, Reduce, Reuse, Repair, Refurbish, Remanufacture, Repurpose, Recycle and Recover), we create an understanding on the value optimization and operationalization of the chosen R strategies involving public, private organisations and consumers.