ABSTRACT
Circular value chains are of great interest in the aluminium industry due to the possibility of recycling or even upcycling materials while also decreasing greenhouse gas emissions. Current circular economy (CE) assessment methods for manufacturing are generic and lack the industrial context to improve aluminium value chains. Therefore, many companies struggle to use the CE as a competitive advantage. This study wants to close the gap by introducing a novel circular manufacturing assessment method focusing on the aluminium industry. This circular manufacturing assessment method was developed based on a systematic literature review and refined through workshops with industry experts to be close to the industrial setting and relevant for each partner in the circular aluminium value chain. This novel assessment method prioritizes R-strategies with a focus on extending the lifetime of products over environmental impact and helping practitioners evaluate and enhance the circularity of aluminium materials and products.
