Extending the RIPEx exergy-based method for selecting End of Life strategy

Abstract

The decision process to cope with waste coming from End of Life (EoL) products is not often achievable in a sustainable way. Most of the current methods rely on environmental criteria, demanding hundreds of variables, frequently resulting in late and biased interpretation with EoL scenarios chosen with high levels of uncertainties. This paper aims to propose a method able to quantitatively identify clear best EoL strategies and thus, focus the recyclers’ efforts during the waste treatment of industrial products. The method relies on energy and material flows quantified in terms of exergy, depicting environmental impact, energy efficiency, cost and technical efficiency. To extend the original method, the Design Science Research Methodology (DSRM) is adopted. The case study quantifies and strongly reiterates the classical hierarchy of EFVs concerning the importance of Reuse, however, challenging the traditional order proposed for other EoL. Hence, materials with high calorific content, such as plastics, are more sustainable by incineration than from recycling. Therefore, the extended method may contribute to decision practices that favour circular economy, waste to energy. An exergy-based approach would drive EoL decision and suggests where to make efforts on more in-depth LCA assessments, disassembly and energy-recovery technologies.