Concrete insight into the possibilities for a circular manufacturing industry in the province of Overijssel

If you're looking to get started with circular revenue models in the manufacturing industry, you'll want to understand the possibilities. With this question as a starting point, we began exploring the impact of implementing circular solutions for several common products in the Overijssel manufacturing industry. We explored circular opportunities for the following product categories: salt spreaders, uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems, industrial food processors, CNC systems, and high-tech radar systems. These insights were incorporated into the Regional Transition Agenda (RTA) for the Manufacturing Industry of the province of Overijssel and detailed in factsheets.

The developed fact sheets provide insight into the factors influencing the manufacturing industry and also illustrate the opportunities for the circular manufacturing industry in Overijssel. We are proud that our fact sheets and accompanying database are now publicly available, allowing everyone to gain insight and experiment with the possibilities offered by the circular economy.

Manufacturing industry: rapid innovations and smart systems

The manufacturing industry is changing rapidly. Uniform mass production has been transformed into "personalized" and "customized," technological innovations are bringing products up to date, and "digital/smart" is becoming the standard. Trends like the Internet of Things and the use of Big Data offer enormous opportunities for manufacturing companies. For example, by integrating sensors, systems can automatically detect when certain parts need replacing, extending product lifespans through smart applications.

What makes the manufacturing industry so interesting for new revenue models?

Complex and intelligent systems frequently use valuable and scarce metals, and several of these raw materials pose security risks. Therefore, it's crucial to consider how raw materials can be used effectively, enabling us to capitalize on the opportunities offered by innovations in the sector, both now and in the future.

An additional challenge is that electronic waste (e-waste) from these types of high-tech products is often poorly processed, meaning the value of the components and materials is lost. Extracting and processing these raw materials is very energy-intensive, resulting in a high environmental impact. Some components contain 1,000 times more value than the materials from which they are derived, and the demand for these materials and components will continue to rise. Therefore, it is important to consider how these valuable components can be retained. This offers opportunities for new revenue models that prevent environmental impact and preserve these scarce materials.

The factsheets offer insights into the opportunities for circular revenue models aimed at preserving product value. New revenue models allow companies to create more value with fewer resources and become less dependent on the supply of scarce (virgin) raw materials and critical materials. By transitioning from selling products to offering services with new revenue models, raw materials are used more efficiently and the value of raw materials at the product, component, and material levels is retained. Furthermore, it is possible to serve multiple users with existing products.

Public database and factsheets

New Economy believes in the power of information sharing to achieve innovation: that's why the factsheets and databases are available to anyone who wants more insight into the opportunities for the manufacturing industry. All factsheets and databases are included in the Regional Transition Agendas for the manufacturing industry in Overijssel.

Impact of this project

‘By providing insight into which raw materials pose risks to security of supply and also showing which materials have the greatest CO2 impact, it becomes possible to implement concrete new materials and revenue models to continue to capitalize on economic opportunities.’Pepijn Duijvestein (New Economy)

“Identifying large and diverse raw material flows in the manufacturing industry is challenging. By looking at the product level, it becomes clear what the manufacturing industry can contribute to reducing raw material consumption and saving CO2. The economic potential for the regional economy is also significant. By understanding these opportunities, we can make better policy decisions.”  Jos Mulder (Province of Overijssel)

For more information about the public database and the Regional Transition Agenda for the Manufacturing Industry, please contact Pippin.

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