EKODA’s circular economy strategy is intended to disrupt the single-minded fixation on recycling. It uses an evaluation system to check the suitability of components for reuse or repurposing. Credit: Fraunhofer IWU
Used and damaged cars are often disposed of via energy-intensive scrapping processes—even when many of their parts are still fully functional. In the EKODA project, Fraunhofer researchers are developing a better alternative. First, they examine each component in a complex testing procedure. Then they use an evaluation system to generate recommendations for how these components could be reused.
This strategy optimizes the lifespan of the individual…