'The DPP will mean all steps in the chain must be transparent'
In the planning project MCRS (Multicircular and Sustainable Manufacturing Industry) explores Lund University, KAmen Nordic, whatt.io, Lostboyslab, Infinite Acoustics and Future by Lund on how to create a system demonstrator to help manufacturing industries and companies make a green transition in line with the EU regulatory framework and new circular economy standards. The areas that are planned to be the first to regulate DPP will be batteries, small electronics and clothing, and therefore it is a good idea to start from Skåne Infinite Acoustics' production of speakers with electronics mounted in boxes made of circulated material that is a mix of industrial games, car tires and recycled plastic. The speakers are manufactured using 3D printers at Lostboyslab, and the entire process is documented in the products' digital passports supplied by whatt.io.
- In this project, the chain of subcontractors is small and the manufacturing is local, says Lars Mattiasson, Future by Lund. The explanatory model includes all parts of the life cycle (not only production but also, for example, recycling) and we have chosen this example in order to be able to more easily examine, describe and copy the model to other production chains or to another industry. Future by Lund also has a large network in other industries and it is our hope to create a model that is applicable to other industries as well.
What do you see the DPP will mean for the future of manufacturing?
- The DPP will mean that all steps in the chain must be transparent. The information is verified by third parties through the blockchain and thus it will be completely reliable. This also means asking for circular chains in which to reuse whenever possible, even the material when the product is out of service. When you sort the end-of-life material, you can make new things with a material on which you know the exact composition.
In the project, the ambition is to create sustainable value chains by carrying out life cycle analyses in all parts of the chain. Here, the cost of making movements (i.e. from raw material to product, from product to recycling, etc.) should be looked at very carefully, for example in terms of materials, carbon dioxide emissions and water consumption.
- By having a better overview of the lifecycle chain, we will see that environmental impact costs money, says Lars Mattiasson. For example, emissions and water consumption will end up on the cost side of the product. When the environmental impact of the future through the DPP is taken into account, it is likely that previously cheap products will be more expensive. The question is even whether one will even be able to afford to manufacture garbage in the future?
One assumption may be that companies that do not qualify for the DPP will find it difficult to bring the product into the EU market.
- This may mean that designers in the future will be very careful to do everything right when developing materials and products, says Lars Mattiasson. Otherwise, it may well come with an economic downside.
Over time, hopefully the work on the system demonstrator will be built on with more actors. A possible collaboration is with a program that deals with wool remains at Dalarna Science Center.
- I think it would be exciting to see what can be done with the woolen fibers that are left over. There are already attempts to mix hemp in order to improve materials in additive production (that is, what is done using 3D printers). We want to test what can be added for properties by adding a wool powder to the mass. I think it is important to link up with other projects, exchange experiences and perhaps also find collaborations to increase the possibility of circular models.
Projects will also use the IoT test beds already used within Future by Lund and run by Anders Trana, who has many years of experience in digitization and sensor technology. Recently, a project was started to prepare an open test bed in 5G+/6G in a public environment together with Ericsson, Kraftringen and Sensative as well as other partners such as Lund University.
Footnote: The initiative is part of the program”Impact Innovation — System Demonstrators for Future Sustainable Manufacturing Industries“supported by Vinnova. The call for Net Zero Industry aims to create conditions for new system demonstrators to reduce the footprint of the Swedish manufacturing industry by 2035 in terms of reduced greenhouse gas emissions caused by products and services but also in terms of resources such as energy and materials used in manufacturing processes. The intention is to stimulate the emergence of a resilient and circular Swedish industry that contributes to resource efficiency, both within and outside the country's borders.