Mixed reality meets circular economy: The case of battery lifecycle management

Abstract

Despite recent digitalization efforts across European industries, research gaps persist in applying mixed reality (MR) within circular economy (CE) frameworks. Specifically, there is limited exploration of data integration, an unclear value proposition for digital tools, and minimal engagement from business perspectives. Despite growing interest, a structured framework mapping MR applications to CE processes remains underexplored. This paper addresses this gap by mapping MR modules to CE practices across lifecycle phases, illustrating specific use cases in design, manufacturing, use, and end-of-life stages. The paper also exploits MR applications for sustainable battery manufacturing, using real-time data to monitor and guide disassembly and recycling processes. This work contributes to advancing sustainable practices and facilitating the transition to circular business models by demonstrating the role of MR in promoting efficient resource use, disassembly, and recycling within a closed-loop system.