Circularity in Product Development - a case at SKF

Abstract

As we are facing environmental challenges globally, the traditional take-make-disposal liner model is no longer sustainable and society as a whole must evolve. Organizations and industries currently operate under such traditional liner model should particularly be at the forefront of the transformation. Circular economy, driven by product life extension, reuse, remanufacture, recycle, etc., is recognized as a sustainable economic system and has been an area of research to develop frameworks, methods and tools to support organizations in making the shift. SKF, a Swedish company which has a high vision of sustainability, has initiated a Circularity Program and determined to implement circular product development within the organization. Therefore, a master thesis project was kicked off to explore collaborative approaches to implement circularity in product development. A backcasting approach was taken in the project to establish goals, identify the gaps between the future and the present, and define key initiatives for the organization to make future planning. The project aims to develop a methodology, building upon existing theories and concepts related to sustainable and circular product development, to implement circularity in product development at the case company. Meanwhile, the project outcome could give inspirations to other manufacturing organizations on circularity implementation, as well as to academia on future researches in the area of circular product development