Start date: 01/05/2021

End date: 01/05/2025

Main objective – Circthread Project intends to unlock access to product data and use it for enhanced CE decision making across the product life cycle. This project will enable to capture and share both data and CE decisions as part of a collaborative information infrastructure, providing a Circular product chain of custody. Information covering product status, materials, resources, critical raw materials, product lifespan, environmental, social, end-of-use options, that will be linked to Circularity Strategies, from products maintenance and lifespan extension, to refurbishment, repair and re-use, re-manufacturing and finally recycling. The project will test 7 distinct use cases: Product tracking and tracing, product manufacturing, spare parts recovery, end of use aspects, lifespan extension, critical raw materials and chemicals, consumer´s behavior. The use cases address economic, environmental, circularity and social aspects.

Goals – Develop a digital thread across the product life cycle with accessible information.Provide integrated life cycle sustainability and circularity assessment methodologies. Support sustainability and circularity assessment standards in Europe. Empower companies, consumers and consumer organizations. Evaluate product re-use and recycling, for policy monitoring. 

Expected Results – Provide consumers with information on mobile devices on WEEE collection & repair options.Enable a further shift to product as a service business models by OEMs. Improved pre-selection of WEEE for different processes to improve separation. Evaluations of the potential yield of new recycling technologies and their cost. Provide feedback from collectors and recyclers to OEM designers.

Total budget:  9.883.198 €

Granted funding:  7.994.956 €