Reference
Glossary
Key terms and definitions from the circular economy and Design for X literature.
A
Arranging direct reuse
The collection, inspection and testing, cleaning and redistribution of a product back into the market under controlled conditions (e.g. a formal business undertaking).
Avoided environmental impacts
Refers to a scenario-based demonstration of the environmental impacts that are avoided by an economy due to the use of value-retention processes (VRPs) within the production mix.
C
Component
Refers to a constituent part of a broader defined system; an element of a larger whole object that could be a part and/or a product.
Comprehensive refurbishment
Refers to the refurbishment of used equipment that takes place within industrial or factory settings, with a high standard and level of refurbishment.
Core
A previously sold, worn or non-functional product or module, intended for the remanufacturing process.
E
Economic impacts
Refers to the economic impact metrics addressed within this study, specifically: cost advantage ($ USD); and employment opportunity (Full-time equivalent worker, or FTE).
Embodied material emissions
Refers to the carbon dioxide and greenhouse gas equivalent emissions emitted during the extraction and primary processing stages of materials.
Embodied material energy
Refers to the energy consumed during the extraction and primary processes stages of materials later used as inputs to OEM New and value-retention process production activities.
End-of-life (EOL)
Refers to the point in the product or object's service life at which the product or object is no longer able to function or perform as required.
End-of-use (EOU)
Refers to the point in the product or object's service life at which the product may not be needed by the current owner/user, or able to function or perform as required.
End-of-waste (EOW)
Refers to conditions under which certain specified waste shall cease to be waste (per Directive 2008/98/EC).
Environmental impacts
Refers to the environmental impact metrics addressed within this study, specifically: new material offset (avoided) (kg); embodied material energy (MJ); embodied material emissions.
Environmental Racism
Refers to the way in which minority group neighbourhoods are burdened with a disproportionate number of hazards, including toxic waste facilities and garbage dumps.
Expected service life
Refers to the manufacturer's expectations about the time period for which a product can be used, usually specified as a median.
F
Failure rate
Refers to how often something fails, such as a component or system. It is usually expressed in failures per unit of time.
Forward-logistics
Refers to the traditional flow of products from the point of production through to the consumer and reflects a traditional supply chain management perspective.
Full-service life
Refers to value-retention processes (VRPs) that enable the fulfilment of a completely new life for every usage cycle of the product.
I
In-use product stock
Refers to products in 'active use', including those being repaired for return to the original user.
L
Leakage
Refers to products or their components/materials that flow from the circular economic system to the biosphere, and that cannot be recovered.
Life cycle assessment (LCA)
A technique for the assessment of environmental aspects and potential impacts associated with a product by compiling an inventory of relevant inputs and outputs.
Life Cycle Option
Refers to the choices of a resource circulation in terms of a products life cycle. Major strategies include reuse, refurbish, remanufactured and recycle.
Lifetime of the Product
Refers to the consumption usage phase of the product. The lifetime starts at the time of purchase and ends when disposed or replaced.
M
Module
Refers to a self-contained unit or item, such as an assembly or segment of a larger product, which itself performs a defined task.
N
New material
Refers to the total 'new' (not reused via value-retention processes (VRPs)) material that is required as inputs to complete each OEM New and Value-Retention Process.
O
OEM new
Refers to traditional linear manufacturing production process activities that rely on 100 per cent new material inputs.
Original equipment manufacturer (OEM)
Refers to the manufacturer of the original parts or equipment, including the items manufactured, assembled and installed during construction of a new product.
P
Part
Refers to a piece or segment of an object; may also be a component of a product.
Partial service life
Refers to value-retention processes (VRPs) that enable the completion of, and/or slight extension of, the expected product life.
Potential reusability
Refers to the extent to which a product complies with End-of-Waste conditions, and thus qualifies as an input to value-retention processes.
Predicted life
Refers to a hypothetical product life calculation estimated by the manufacturer for which it will honour warranty claims.
Presource
Refers to obsolete products awaiting recovery.
Primary material
Also referred to as virgin material, refers to a material that has not been previously used or consumed, or subjected to processing other than for its original production.
Process emissions
Refers to the carbon dioxide and greenhouse gas equivalent emissions emitted during the OEM New and/or value-retention process production activities.
Process energy
Refers to direct at-the-meter energy consumed during the OEM New and/or value-retention process production activities.
Product
Refers to an article, object or substance that is manufactured or refined for sale, that is the final output of a process.
Product Integrity
Refers to the ability of a product to meet or exceed its original state over time and eliminating the perceived reasons for obsolescence.
Product lifetime
Refers to the period that starts at the moment a product completes original manufacture and ends when beyond any reuse or recovery.
Product platform
Refers to a set of common elements, including underlying technical components, parts or technology that are shared across a range of the company's products.
Production mix
Refers to the equivalent production shares of OEM New and Value-Retention Processes that are adopted within a sample economy.
R
Recovery horizon
Refers to the limit beyond which products or their components cannot be recovered.
Recycling
Refers to the relevant operations specified in Annex IV B to the Basel Convention. Recycling operations usually involves the reprocessing of waste into products.
Refurbishment
Refers to the modification of an object that is a waste or a product to increase or restore performance and/or functionality.
Remanufacturing
Refers to a standardized industrial process that takes place within industrial or factory settings, in which cores are restored to original as-new condition.
Repair
Refers to the fixing of a specified fault in an object that is a waste or a product and/or replacing defective components.
Reuse
Refers to the using again of a product, object or substance that is not waste, for the same purpose for which it was conceived.
Reverse-logistics
Refers to activities engaged to recapture the value of products, parts, and materials once they have reached end-of-use or end-of-life.
S
Secondary market
Also referred to as the aftermarket, is a market for used goods or assets, or alternative use for an existing product or asset.
Secondary material
Also referred to as recycled material, refers to any material that has been used at least once before, is not the primary product of a manufacturing or commercial process.
Service life
Refers to a product's total lifetime during which it can be used economically or the time during which it is used by one owner.
T
Technical nutrients
Refers to non-toxic, highly stable materials that have no negative effects on the natural environment, that are designed to be recovered and reused within production activities.
U
Upgrade
Refers to the act of raising a product to a higher standard with the objective to improve performance, efficiency, and/or functionality by adding or replacing components.
Utilization value
Refers to the utility gained from a stock of products or service for the period of duration of their lifetime.
V
Value lifetime
Refers to the value of the product based on external factors, such as technology infrastructure changes and attractiveness compared with competing products.
Value-retention processes
Activities, typically production-type activities, that enable the completion of, and/or potentially extend a product's service life beyond traditional expected service life.
W
Waste
Refers to any substance or object which the holder discards or intends or is required to discard (Directive 2008/98/EC).
Z
Zero life product
Refers to products that go directly from production to disposal and never reach any consumer. Examples include fashion deadstock and imperfect agriculture products.
No matching terms found.