Recycling of Cartridges in a Closed Loop Circular Economy
This thesis evaluate s if used ink and toner cartridge s can be kept through recycling in a
closed loop Circular Economy where both polymer s and electronical waste can be fed
back into the loop for creating new cartridges In order to evaluate this closed loop
approach qualitative data is gathered through interviews and interpreted so that necessary
requirements and their respective prioritisation are identified for designing and
developing a n appropriate recycling process. Based on the conducted interviews, it is
outlined that depending on the recycling method different ways exist how cartridges can
be kept in a closed loop. Therefore according to the prioritisation of the different
requirements, the three different categories groups for processing and recycling
cartridges are identified and discussed. Namely, these groups are the remanufacturers, the
recyclers, and the refillers. A s a further result, a challenge that all three groups seem to
face is the lack of customer awareness and the low return rate of cartridges. However, it
is shown that by increasing the customer awareness and the return rate the profitability
can be increase d and the environmental impact reduced all at the same time Eventually,
this thesis identifies which requirements are relevant with r espect to the three groups as
well as their specific prioritisation As other produ cts also contain polymers and
electronical components, the requirements and their prioritisation may also be taken as
reference for other similar recycling processes
his thesis evaluate s if used ink and toner cartridge s can be kept through recycling in a
closed loop Circular Economy where both polymer s and electronical waste can be fed
back into the loop for creating new cartridges In order to evaluate this closed loop
approach qualitative data is gathered through interviews and interpreted so that necessary
requirements and their respective prioritisation are identified for designing and
developing a n appropriate recycling process. Based on the conducted interviews, it is
outlined that depending on the recycling method different ways exist how cartridges can
be kept in a closed loop. Therefore according to the prioritisation of the different
requirements, the three different categories groups for processing and recycling
cartridges are identified and discussed. Namely, these groups are the remanufacturers, the
recyclers, and the refillers. A s a further result, a challenge that all three groups seem to
face is the lack of customer awareness and the low return rate of cartridges. However, it
is shown that by increasing the customer awareness and the return rate the profitability
can be increase d and the environmental impact reduced all at the same time Eventually,
this thesis identifies which requirements are relevant with r espect to the three groups as
well as their specific prioritisation As other produ cts also contain polymers and
electronical components, the requirements and their prioritisation may also be taken as
reference for other similar recycling processes
Wüthrich, Jasmin, 2022
Art der Arbeit Master Thesis
Auftraggebende
Betreuende Dozierende Eisenbart, Barbara, Schlick, Sandra
Keywords
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Studiengang: Business Information Systems (Master)
Vertraulichkeit: öffentlich