Remanufacturing for the Circular Economy

Remanufacturing is a comprehensive and rigorous industrial process by which a previously sold, worn, or non-functional product or component is returned to a “like-new” or “better-than-new” condition with a warranty that guarantees a level of performance and quality.

Remanufacturing is not the same as “recycling” or “repairing”. A lack of awareness of remanufacturing and its benefits by dealers, customers and policymakers remains a major obstacle to growth of the industry.

Some of the benefits of remanufacturing include:

- Conservation of materials (of increasing importance as raw materials become scarcer and more expensive)
- Reduced energy consumption during manufacturing
- Reduced waste (and associated disposal costs)
- Lower price for comparable quality

Some of the most commonly remanufactured product categories are:

- Aircraft components
- Automotive parts
- Electrical and electronic equipment
- Engines and components
- Medical equipment
- Office furniture
- Printing equipment
- Restaurant and food-service equipment

Remanufacturing is an important component of a resource-efficient manufacturing industry. By keeping components and their embodied material in use for longer, significant energy use and CO₂emissions to air and water can be reduced. In addition to improving resource management, remanufacturing provides opportunities for the creation of highly skilled jobs and economic growth.