Designing consumer electronic products for the circular economy using recycled Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS): a case study

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Ford, P. ORCID: 0000-0002-9607-3292 and Fisher, J., 2019. Designing consumer electronic products for the circular economy using recycled Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS): a case study. Journal of Cleaner Production, 236: 117490. ISSN 0959-6526

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Official URL: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.06.321

Abstract

This study considers the feasibility of using 100% recycled Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (rABS) in the caseworks of small consumer electronic products as a step towards more circular design and manufacturing. A Digitally Enhanced Cordless Telephone (DECT) handset was chosen as a representative example of such a product. Materials testing on the rABS demonstrated that 100% recycled ABS has similar properties to virgin ABS and can be substituted for virgin ABS as long as the product design allows for the slightly stiffer nature of the rABS and addresses issues of surface finish and ability to colour. By clearly understanding these issues at the outset of the design process, and by adapting the designs appropriately at the outset, it was possible to produce an rABS handset which was as robust and as cosmetically acceptable as one made of virgin ABS. This suggests that the recycled material could be used widely in this type of product and also at reduced cost to using virgin ABS. Furthermore, an abridged Life Cycle Analysis of the existing handset suggested that other issues associated with the environmental impact of the product could be relatively easily addressed at the design stage by considering energy use and end of life issues.

Item Type:

Journal article

Publication Title:

Journal of Cleaner Production

Creators:

Ford, P. and Fisher, J.

Publisher:

Elsevier

Date:

November 2019

Volume:

236