Skip to main content

LUP Student Papers

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Transitioning towards a circular economy at an electronics manufacturer: Barriers and solutions for implementing a take back system in the US

Pellosniemi, Ellen LU and Lundgren, Ebba LU (2022) INTM01 20212
Innovation Engineering
Abstract
So far, over 50 million tonnes of e-waste have been generated globally (World
Economic Forum, 2019), raising the question of the role of circular economy in combating climate change (Ellen MacArthur Foundation, 2021). This thesis
explores the opportunities for Axis Communications to introduce a take back system
for recycling decommissioned products in the US.

Within this scope, several areas are investigated. Firstly, possible barriers for
electronics manufacturers when establishing a take back system are reviewed,
including how to overcome these barriers. Secondly, potential barriers for
stakeholders in the downstream supply chain to participate in the system are
examined, along with possible ways to incentivize them to join the... (More)
So far, over 50 million tonnes of e-waste have been generated globally (World
Economic Forum, 2019), raising the question of the role of circular economy in combating climate change (Ellen MacArthur Foundation, 2021). This thesis
explores the opportunities for Axis Communications to introduce a take back system
for recycling decommissioned products in the US.

Within this scope, several areas are investigated. Firstly, possible barriers for
electronics manufacturers when establishing a take back system are reviewed,
including how to overcome these barriers. Secondly, potential barriers for
stakeholders in the downstream supply chain to participate in the system are
examined, along with possible ways to incentivize them to join the take back system. Finally, a set of next steps are outlined for Axis to proceed with establishing a take back system.

These questions were answered by a literature review in combination with
interviews and workshops. The insights from interviews were compiled into a
visualization of clustered barriers, to get an overview of all barriers for an
electronics manufacturer to establish a take back system. Next, a Solution
Evaluation Matrix was developed, where potential solutions to each barrier were
evaluated, based on the electronics manufacturer's capacity (ability and willingness) to execute them and the impact on the implementation. The thesis culminates in a roadmap for Axis, including a set of recommended next steps of how to move forward with implementing a take back system.

In conclusion, the thesis contributes to academic research, by addressing
incentivization from a company to another, and to electronics manufacturers'
practical implementation of a take back system. (Less)
Abstract (Swedish)
Hittills har över 50 miljoner ton e-avfall genererats globalt (World Economic
Forum, 2019), vilket väcker frågan om den cirkulära ekonomins roll i kampen mot
klimatförändringarna (Ellen MacArthur Foundation, 2021). I detta examensarbete
undersöks möjligheterna för Axis Communications att införa ett system i USA för
att ta tillbaka produkter som tagits ur bruk och återvinna dem.

Inom detta område undersöks flera aspekter. Först granskas möjliga hinder för
elektroniktillverkare vid införandet av ett retursystem, samt hur dessa hinder kan övervinnas. Sedan undersöks potentiella utmaningar för intressenter inom
försörjningskedjan nedströms att delta i systemet, samt möjliga sätt att ge dem
incitament för att göra detta. Slutligen... (More)
Hittills har över 50 miljoner ton e-avfall genererats globalt (World Economic
Forum, 2019), vilket väcker frågan om den cirkulära ekonomins roll i kampen mot
klimatförändringarna (Ellen MacArthur Foundation, 2021). I detta examensarbete
undersöks möjligheterna för Axis Communications att införa ett system i USA för
att ta tillbaka produkter som tagits ur bruk och återvinna dem.

Inom detta område undersöks flera aspekter. Först granskas möjliga hinder för
elektroniktillverkare vid införandet av ett retursystem, samt hur dessa hinder kan övervinnas. Sedan undersöks potentiella utmaningar för intressenter inom
försörjningskedjan nedströms att delta i systemet, samt möjliga sätt att ge dem
incitament för att göra detta. Slutligen beskrivs nästa steg för Axis när det kommer till att införa ett system för återtag av gamla produkter.

Dessa frågor har besvarats genom en litteraturstudie i kombination med intervjuer
och workshops. Insikterna från intervjuerna sammanställdes till en visualisering av klustrade barriärer, för att få en helhetsbild över alla barriärer för en
elektroniktillverkare att implementera ett retursystem. Därefter utvecklades en
matris för att utvärdera lösningarna. Potentiella lösningar för alla
elektroniktillverkarens barriärer utvärderades utifrån företagets kapacitet att
genomföra lösningarna, dvs. deras förmåga och vilja, samt lösningarnas påverkan
på implementationen. Examensarbetet mynnar ut i en färdplan för Axis, samt
rekommenderade nästa steg för hur man ska gå vidare med att införa ett retursystem.

Sammanfattningsvis bidrar examensarbetet till akademisk forskning, genom att
belysa hur företag kan ge incitament till andra företag, och till elektroniktillverkares
praktiska implementering av ett retursystem. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Pellosniemi, Ellen LU and Lundgren, Ebba LU
supervisor
organization
course
INTM01 20212
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
circular economy, e-waste take back, stakeholder barriers, B2B incentivization, solution prioritization
language
English
id
9071558
date added to LUP
2022-01-14 10:54:49
date last changed
2022-01-14 10:54:49
@misc{9071558,
  abstract     = {{So far, over 50 million tonnes of e-waste have been generated globally (World
Economic Forum, 2019), raising the question of the role of circular economy in combating climate change (Ellen MacArthur Foundation, 2021). This thesis
explores the opportunities for Axis Communications to introduce a take back system
for recycling decommissioned products in the US.

Within this scope, several areas are investigated. Firstly, possible barriers for
electronics manufacturers when establishing a take back system are reviewed,
including how to overcome these barriers. Secondly, potential barriers for
stakeholders in the downstream supply chain to participate in the system are
examined, along with possible ways to incentivize them to join the take back system. Finally, a set of next steps are outlined for Axis to proceed with establishing a take back system.

These questions were answered by a literature review in combination with
interviews and workshops. The insights from interviews were compiled into a
visualization of clustered barriers, to get an overview of all barriers for an
electronics manufacturer to establish a take back system. Next, a Solution
Evaluation Matrix was developed, where potential solutions to each barrier were
evaluated, based on the electronics manufacturer's capacity (ability and willingness) to execute them and the impact on the implementation. The thesis culminates in a roadmap for Axis, including a set of recommended next steps of how to move forward with implementing a take back system.

In conclusion, the thesis contributes to academic research, by addressing
incentivization from a company to another, and to electronics manufacturers'
practical implementation of a take back system.}},
  author       = {{Pellosniemi, Ellen and Lundgren, Ebba}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Transitioning towards a circular economy at an electronics manufacturer: Barriers and solutions for implementing a take back system in the US}},
  year         = {{2022}},
}