Ein neuer Weg zur Bewertung der Recyclingfähigkeit von Produkten mittels Statistischer Entropie: Fallbeispiel Mobiltelefone

Abstract

Statistical entropy can be used to evaluate different waste management processes. If a process leads to separation and thus concentration of individual materials or substances, this corresponds to low statistical entropy, which increases if mixing and dilution occur. For example, recycling processes aim to generate concentrated recycling outputs from a mixed waste input, which corresponds to a reduction in statistical entropy. However, a statistical entropy assessment can also be used for products themselves, where the material composition and the product structure are evaluated. Complex products that consist of many materials tend to have a higher statistical entropy and are less recyclable than products composed of only a few materials. Statistical entropy can therefore be viewed as a measure of the recyclability of products. The application of the new assessment method is demonstrated in a case study on mobile phones of different generations. The results of the case study show that statistical entropy is suitable for evaluating the product-inherent recyclability of products and thus providing important insights into the design for recycling of products. Applied as a planning or decision-making tool, the new assessment approach could help to set the course for an effective Circular Economy as early as in the product design and thus enable better recycling.