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In this paper, we study the link between renewable technology adoption and the resulting waste, drawing parallels from our experience with the WEEE Directive to suggest policy recommendations and highlight future research directions. Our ideas are driven by the observation that the sharp reduction in solar panel installation costs along with improvements in their energy conversion efficiency has driven a rapid growth in the adoption of this technology. We note a potential caveat to such rapid growth in adoption: existing installations being retired earlier than their projected 30-year lifetime. In this context, we build a model of the technology adoption and replacement behaviour of solar panel end-users. We conduct a numerical analysis to calculate the solar panel replacement incentives of US residential households, and project the resulting waste from residential panels. We find that annual new waste introduced into the market can exceed the volume of new installations within the next decade, which can more than double the levelized cost of energy for solar generation and jeopardise the cost competitiveness of this technology in the foreseeable future. These observations reflect the importance of a circular economy outlook in renewable energy system design and call for further research in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research effort is dedicated to develop and test a mathematical approach to estimate the optimal aircraft age to make decisions about its withdrawn from service, market relocation, or starting its retirement and decommissioning processes. Our method consists of a cost-benefit financial analysis based on the expected revenue from the aircraft returning to operations and the aircraft recovery process to support end-of-life decisions. The core contribution of this research is the possibility of systematically analyse opportunities to return parked aircraft to active service, considering reasonable scenarios of operating revenue improvements or operating cost reductions, postponing the aircraft retirement and decommissioning decision. It is important to highlight that only financial concerns of the end-of-life aircraft problem were analysed. Considering this managerial context, the estimation of the aircraft parking and retirement costs, the recovery of the operating revenues from its market relocation and the recovered values from its disassembly and dismantling may influence these companies' aircraft fleet planning in a well-supported manner. This research intends to fulfill the gaps in the literature regarding commercial aircraft costs and revenues incurred during its end-of-life phase, aiming to estimate how much they affect its total cost of ownership, considering aircraft owners' and operators' decision-making contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The overconsumption of conventional plastics has led to several environmental and social-economic issues related to plastic pollution, carbon emissions and resource depletion. Acknowledging these issues, the introduction of alternatives such as bioplastics has been promoted by national, supranational, and international organizations. However, the market for such materials is still niche, where businesses are uncertain about the benefits and costs associated with the use of these innovative materials. Successful (and sustainable) uptake of such alternatives will depend on public acceptance and changes in consumer behavior. Therefore, this study aims to explore how consumers' orientation towards environmental sustainability is related to consumer utilization of alternatives such as bio-based and biodegradable plastics. Consumer knowledge and performance expectations of these materials are also analyzed. This study employed a predominately quantitative research approach, where a self-administered online survey was used to collect the opinions of consumers across society using a snowball sampling technique. Results show continued consumer confusion, unrealistic expectations, and a value-action gap. These elements may have consequences for market uptake and broader implications across the value chain. A key implication is that both policy makers and businesses should address these barriers through enhanced communication of relevant information alongside improved consumer awareness and education.

While the uptake of solar photovoltaic panels for the generation of clean energy has almost exponentially increased over the past about 10 years, effective end-of-life management legislation is still lacking in many nations. Organizations like the International Renewable Energy Agency have clearly outlined the need and benefit of robust end-of-life management legislations, such as a product stewardship scheme or extended producer responsibility, to avoid a looming significant waste legacy. This article explores a possible design of an end-of-life legislation for solar photovoltaic panels including new and existing panels, necessary legislation for a second-hand economy for solar photovoltaic panels, and options for necessary levies to support an emerging recycling industry for solar panels. The article also tries to make recommendations for a product stewardship scheme for solar photovoltaic panels and its financial support.

While the uptake of solar photovoltaic panels for the generation of clean energy has almost exponentially increased over the past about 10 years, effective end-of-life management legislation is still lacking in many nations. Organizations like the International Renewable Energy Agency have clearly outlined the need and benefit of robust end-of-life management legislations, such as a product stewardship scheme or extended producer responsibility, to avoid a looming significant waste legacy. This article explores a possible design of an end-of-life legislation for solar photovoltaic panels including new and existing panels, necessary legislation for a second-hand economy for solar photovoltaic panels, and options for necessary levies to support an emerging recycling industry for solar panels. The article also tries to make recommendations for a product stewardship scheme for solar photovoltaic panels and its financial support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• PV waste estimated to reach 88 million tons by 2050, urging global action. • Recycling is key for resource recovery, environmental protection, and sustainability. • Reuse, improved design, policies, and research are essential for PV EoL management. The global shift to clean energy has resulted in a significant increase in photovoltaic (PV) panel installations. However, with their limited lifespan of 25–30 years, end-of-life (EoL) management is becoming an environmental and economic challenge to the sector. Currently, PV panels are disposed of in landfills, raising concerns about resource loss and environmental contamination. This research paper addresses this by using a novel quantitative modelling framework that employs historical data and Bass diffusion equations to project future PV waste generation in key markets, including China, India, the USA, Japan, and Germany. The findings emphasise the necessity of exploring alternative EoL management options, such as repair, reuse, and recycling, to prevent resource loss and environmental contamination. The study's novel methodology and detailed analysis highlight a lack of specific regulations for PV waste management globally. The study necessitates global policy frameworks, international standards, and public awareness to support the transition to a circular economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The depletion of fossil fuels and the pollution created due to their usage is pushing the current society towards solar energy. Photovoltaics (PV) have been touted as the energy source for the future. As the PV installations increase, their disposal at the end-of-life (EoL) becomes more pressing. Recycling them is of great importance, considering the environmental impact they have and the growing scarcity of metals. This article estimates the volume of solar panel waste that will be generated using a learning curve and discusses the disadvantages of landfill disposal and why it is not sustainable. It dwells deep into the current recycling processes available for crystalline silicon (c-Si) solar panels. It explores the composition of PV modules and provides a detailed analysis of the existing technologies addressing the complexities of PV recycling. It examines the strengths and weaknesses of each method, highlights the key topics for future research, and explains why these areas require investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Renewable energy generation and increased electrification are pivotal to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and mitigating climate change. Consequently, global deployment of wind turbines has soared, and the trend is expected to continue. Installed turbines have only recently started reaching the end of their design lives, and waste volumes are projected to escalate rapidly. Approximately 94% of a wind turbine (by mass) is recyclable, but the waste polymer composite blades are most commonly landfilled. This mini-review aims to review current end-of-life (EoL) management practices in the large-scale wind industry for countries with established EoL standards as well as those with less mature regulations. Data on current EoL management practices, initiatives and regulations in industry was sourced primarily from literature reviews and publicly available internet information. Additional insights and perspectives were gained from WindEurope's EoL Issues and Strategies 2020 seminar and through communication with select individuals from various sectors such as wind energy development and operations, government, industry associations, academia and research organizations. The results show that the decision on EoL options is dictated by the remaining useful life (RUL) of the wind turbines, prevailing policies and electricity prices. The contribution of this article is, firstly, identifying a number of key technical, economic and regulatory questions that must be asked before deciding on the most appropriate EoL option. Secondly, the article identifies factors that impede current EoL management efforts to close the circular economy gap and those that can support sustainable technology deployment. Finally, the article considers the way that countries with a young fleet of wind farms may learn from more experienced nations. There are few proven business cases, and barriers to the profitability and effectiveness of EoL strategies include uncertainty about the assets' RUL, collection logistics, the size of wind farm operation margins, low waste feedstock and limited markets for recycled products. Designing for circularity, stakeholder collaboration, circular business models and technology-specific regulations can improve EoL sustainability. The research found that wind turbine EoL management is dynamic and complex and needs to consider multiple, often conflicting factors. However, it is necessary and has immense environmental, technical and economic potential as the industry matures and business cases are proven. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lithium‐ion battery (LIB) usage is growing dramatically worldwide. Relatedly, there is a need for the management of end‐of‐life (EOL) LIBs. EOL requires closed‐loop systems and supply chains. Although many studies related to managing EOL in closed‐loop supply chains exist, one especially pernicious issue is overlooked—safety. This study seeks to address this major safety oversight for EOL LIBs using closed‐loop supply chains that are critical to a larger circular economy environment. The evaluation is completed along a technology–organization–environment (TOE) framework; potential research directions for mitigating safety issues are part of the analysis of this study. Specific and general research questions pertaining to secure management of EOL LIBs are put forward to help advance academic research. Practical concerns are also described for policymakers and organizations. This study reveals implications of these questions for the intersection of materials science, supply chain management, and fire‐protection engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pesticide residues has become a serious environmental concern due to the intensification of agricultural production, its universal use and the risk of contamination. It is an issue that is inserted in the dichotomy between the search for increased food production, waste generation and environmental preservation. There are two main objectives for this work. First, the descriptive analysis of the reverse logistics (RL) of empty pesticide containers (EPCs) as it is practiced under the Campo Limpo system (Brazil) so that the factors enabling its success are identified. Second, the proposal of strategies to improve the collection system. Technical visits and a system dynamics approach were combined, using the Behaviour Over Time graph and a causal loop model to describe the problem and propose strategies. Results indicate three key areas of the Campo Limpo system that can be improved: producer awareness, alternative means of returning containers and data transparency. Small and medium producers are more penalised in the return process due to the lack of information, difficulty in accessing disposal centres and the cost of transportation.

Electronic waste (e-waste) refers to obsolete electronic and electrical equipment and its materials. Due to the complex structure and composition of e-waste, improper disposal may generate substances harmful to humans and the environment and result in the loss of recyclable substances. To tackle the challenges in the end-of-life management of e-waste, there is a need for a systematic review of what the literature has investigated and found. Therefore, this paper aims to explore the extensive scientific literature related to e-waste management using a visualized approach. Overall, 8149 research articles were selected and exported from the Web of Science and then analyzed based on mapping knowledge domains. CiteSpace and Gephi, as effective tools, were utilized to identify hidden patterns and correlations from large and complex research outcomes from 1998 to 2019. This research discussed the evolution of global e-waste management, the knowledge-based network, research topics, frontiers and the cooperation relationships. Finally, this state-of-the-art review generated a few research directions that can be further investigated in this research field.

Abstract Lithium‐ion battery (LIB) usage is growing dramatically worldwide. Relatedly, there is a need for the management of end‐of‐life (EOL) LIBs. EOL requires closed‐loop systems and supply chains. Although many studies related to managing EOL in closed‐loop supply chains exist, one especially pernicious issue is overlooked—safety. This study seeks to address this major safety oversight for EOL LIBs using closed‐loop supply chains that are critical to a larger circular economy environment. The evaluation is completed along a technology–organization–environment (TOE) framework; potential research directions for mitigating safety issues are part of the analysis of this study. Specific and general research questions pertaining to secure management of EOL LIBs are put forward to help advance academic research. Practical concerns are also described for policymakers and organizations. This study reveals implications of these questions for the intersection of materials science, supply chain management, and fire‐protection engineering.

The production of electric energy has been increasingly deriving from renewable sources, and it is projected that this trend will continue over the next years. Among these sources, the use of solar energy is supposed to be considered the main future solution to global climate change and fossil fuel emissions. Since current photovoltaic (PV) panels are estimated to have an average life of 25–30 years, their disposal is very important for the recovery of materials already used and for introducing them again into other processing cycles. Innovative solutions are therefore needed to minimize the emissions of pollutants derived from the recycling of photovoltaic panels that no longer work. In this research, an analysis of data related to durability, recyclability rates, different possible design layouts and materials used in the design and manufacture of PV panels was conducted. Through a Design for Recycling (DfR) and a Design for Durability (DfD), the authors identified the optimal materials, the best geometries and geometric proportions as well as the most convenient geometric and dimensional tolerances in the couplings between the layers and the components that comprise the panel to attain the most current, efficient and effective solutions for recycling end-of-life (EoL) PV panels and for longer durability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Moving towards solution-based approaches presents huge potentials for sustainable economic growth. However, this approach does not automatically lead to sustainability. Industrial solutions should be designed from a life cycle perspective, which requires the transition of industrial systems towards approaches focusing on the product's life-cycle optimization. This can be achieved through life-extension or recovery strategies. From a life-cycle viewpoint, the End-of-Life concept and disposal are replaced with restoration to extend the product lifespan and restore the material and energy. One of the main challenges in front of this circular approach is choosing the best through-life services. To address this need, this research articulates a conceptual framework to support the transition of the industrial solution towards the through-life service by translating life-extension service into an actionable pathway. In this context, the idea of services per life stage based on the chain of "Observation-Analysis-Acting" is proposed for industrial through-life services. An industrial use case from the ICP4Life project is conducted to validate the efficiency of the proposed framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Remanufacturing of end-of-life products and parts is seen as a solution in the transition towards a circular economy. There are many proposed tools and methods to facilitate the application of this circular strategy, however, among them, there is a lack of support tools for practitioners that include multiple perspectives related to the value chain and circular economy. In fact, remanufacturing strategy, economic and environmental trade-offs, and circularity indicators are rarely integrated within one framework. In this paper, an approach is presented taking advantage of the state-of-the-art research on green profit model and circularity indicators; in other words, these tools are used together to unlock the circular potential in manufacturing practice. In this way, typical problems of production planning and control in remanufacturing processes are interconnected with the goals of sustainable development, also considering product design and end-of-life strategy choices. The presented framework represents a promising support to be used in industrial practice. A case study based on PV panel infrastructure allows a better comprehension of the research outputs and assesses the validity of the support provided by the framework in the deployment of circular economy strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Determining the lifetime of solar photovoltaic modules is integral to planning future installations and ensuring effective end-of-life management. The lifetime of photovoltaic modules is most commonly considered to be 25 years based on performance guarantees of 80% power output after 25 years of operation; however, influences including climatic conditions, social behaviour, fiscal policy, and technological improvements have the potential to prompt early replacement. Therefore, this work aims to estimate the operating lifetime of photovoltaic panels more accurately in Australia by considering a variety of technical, economic, and social reasons for decommissioning. Based on a range of sources including government organisations, other policymakers, regulators and advisors, energy suppliers, researchers, recyclers, and manufacturers, three lifetime models—power decrease, damage and technical failures, and economic motivation—were developed and then weighted in three scenarios to form overall views of panel lifetime in Australia. In addition, it was concluded that the module lifetime will vary considerably between countries due to differences in market factors. Therefore, these results specifically address Australia as most of the input data were sourced from Australian industry reports and Australian photovoltaic systems and interpreted within the context of the Australian photovoltaic market. However, the methodology of estimating lifetime based on both technical and non-technical factors can be applied to other scenarios by using country-specific data. With the popularity of photovoltaic technology beginning in the early 2010s and given the practical lifetimes of 15–20 years found in this work, Australia will need to act swiftly within the next three years to responsibly manage the looming solar panel waste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plastic waste derived from plastic dog poop bags (DPBs) could be considered a negligible source of plastic waste. However, it is estimated that this kind of waste contributes to 0.6% of the total plastic waste generated worldwide, and it is expected to increase in the following years. Plastic dog poop bags can be replaced with biodegradable and bio-based alternatives. These alternatives can biodegrade in various environments such as composting, soil, or water and thus allow for end-of-life management without the risk of contaminating the environment with microplastics. However, not all biodegradable bags are always compostable. In this study, we tested composting as the end-of-life management of selected biodegradable dog poop bags (i.e., prototypes of bags and commercially available bags). We analyzed the biodegradation of selected biodegradable plastic dog poop bags during the composting of green waste in laboratory composting reactors after 4 weeks and 90 days of composting. All the investigated DPBs decomposed 100% after 90 days of composting. However, the fresh compost obtained after the 90-day composting of green waste mixed with the investigated bags containing dog poop did not demonstrate high quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Circular economy is an upward trending notion that has drawn worldwide attention of policymakers, industry administrators, environmentalist as well as academic researchers. Though there are several tools developed for monitoring the material recovery, a very few number of research have been conducted to integrate circular economy principles with end-of-life (EOL) management strategies. This paper proposes an EOL-driven circular economy framework for the management of materials flow so as to extend the lifetime of materials through improved durability as well as to provide more social, economic and environmental benefits through less material waste. A case study from the agricultural waste industry is presented in order to test the model and validate its performance. The results show that the proposed framework has a good potential for small and medium enterprises (SME) advances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

End-of-life management for marine structures demands exceptionally sustainability practices due to the potential for environmental and health hazards associated. The purpose of this article is to explain how improved recycling, reusing, and disposal techniques contribute to the marine industry's long-term sustainability. The subject is narrated through six major maritime structural material categories: ferrous, non-ferrous, polymer, inorganic materials, composites, and concrete. With the information gathered, some noticeable institutional voids were identified and discussed with the possible actions to counter them. Environmental sustainability, economic concerns, waste management, and a lack of regulatory execution were identified as critical global issues. It is stressed that the design requirements for marine structures should consider (a) the overall benefits and drawbacks of end-of-life options, as well as (b) the marine structure's lifecycle cost. When adopting design for reuse/recycle concepts, the proposed three-phase design hierarchy would be a valuable tool for structural designers. The degree of sustainability of various end-of-life management solutions is graded using a ranking system. With more research, the ranking system can be developed into a standardised rating model. Overall, the study covers state of the art in the end-of-life management industry and outlines significant global concerns and research gaps while offering answers and techniques for dealing with such issues, ensuring the industry's long-term sustainability.

Pesticide residues has become a serious environmental concern due to the intensification of agricultural production, its universal use and the risk of contamination. It is an issue that is inserted in the dichotomy between the search for increased food production, waste generation and environmental preservation. There are two main objectives for this work. First, the descriptive analysis of the reverse logistics (RL) of empty pesticide containers (EPCs) as it is practiced under the Campo Limpo system (Brazil) so that the factors enabling its success are identified. Second, the proposal of strategies to improve the collection system. Technical visits and a system dynamics approach were combined, using the Behaviour Over Time graph and a causal loop model to describe the problem and propose strategies. Results indicate three key areas of the Campo Limpo system that can be improved: producer awareness, alternative means of returning containers and data transparency. Small and medium producers are more penalised in the return process due to the lack of information, difficulty in accessing disposal centres and the cost of transportation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• This review covers the latest advancements that have been developed both at academic and industrial levels to make polyurethane (PU) more sustainable over their all life cycle (synthesis, processing, and end of life). • Bio-based PU precursors, less hazardous synthetic pathways, non-isocyanate polyurethanes, energy/atom efficient processes and end-of-life management of PU are thoroughly discussed and detailed. • This review also provides information about commercial availability of sustainable PU precursors and their producers with the aim to help researchers to develop more sustainable PU materials. Polyurethanes (PU) are ranked amongst the 6th most manufactured worldwide polymers and are widely used in a variety of applications due to the diversity of properties they offer. Nevertheless, PUs are raising questions around environmental, legislative, health, and recycling concerns. In this context, due to the high isocyanate toxicity, blocked isocyanates, waterborne PU systems, and non-isocyanate polyurethane (NIPU) were introduced to prevent isocyanate handling risks. Moreover, sustainable feedstocks stood out to synthetize greener PU. In particular, bio-based polyfunctional short alcohol and isocyanate compounds have emerged to design fully bio-based PU materials with targeted chemical and mechanical properties. Finally, the large amounts of PU that have been placed on the market are now leading to environmental issues regarding its accumulation in the environment. Several methods have thus been recently developed to facilitate their end-of-life management and recyclability. This review provides a complete overview on the most recent advances on PUs synthesis with focus on the replacement of toxic isocyanates and petroleum-based resources, the use of greener processes, and their recycling methods. After a quick summary on PUs history and worldwide situation, different bio-based alcohols and isocyanates introduced on academic and industrial sides, and the corresponding PU are outlined. Furthermore, different synthesis pathways to produce NIPUs are discussed. Finally, the enzymatic and chemical recycling of PUs are outlined. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• LCA allocation by stages masks the information on the stakeholders' responsibility. • GHG allocation to stakeholders ensures accountability. • Cooperative Game Theory is integrated into LCA to engage stakeholders in recycling. • Users bear half their initial baseline burden in the improved allocation accounting. • Nucleolus assigned most GHG benefits to producers; Shapley Value to manufacturers. Life Cycle Assessment is the primary approach to quantify the environmental impacts of plastics. However, it encounters challenges in allocating the impacts of respective stages to stakeholders, especially for systems involving multi-cycles and end-of-life stages. This study proposes a framework integrating Cooperative Game Theory to assess and allocate the greenhouse gas footprint among stakeholders. The applied concepts are the Shapley Value, Nucleolus and Core. The applicability is demonstrated by a case study of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) with four recycling and landfill scenarios. The Shapley Value, which highlights fair allocation, suggests ∼ 792–1164 kg of unburdening CO 2 eq/t PET (∼ 47 % net recycling credits) assigned to material producers, 844.5–1216.5 kgCO 2 eq/t PET to product manufacturers, and the remaining ∼ 2–3 % to users. The Nucleolus stresses satisfactory results in 1531.5–2275.5 kgCO 2 eq/t PET to material producers, constituting ∼ 90 % of the total credits. The allocation does not change the total footprints; however, it is essential for the stakeholders' cooperation in environmental initiatives. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The production of electric energy has been increasingly deriving from renewable sources, and it is projected that this trend will continue over the next years. Among these sources, the use of solar energy is supposed to be considered the main future solution to global climate change and fossil fuel emissions. Since current photovoltaic (PV) panels are estimated to have an average life of 25–30 years, their disposal is very important for the recovery of materials already used and for introducing them again into other processing cycles. Innovative solutions are therefore needed to minimize the emissions of pollutants derived from the recycling of photovoltaic panels that no longer work. In this research, an analysis of data related to durability, recyclability rates, different possible design layouts and materials used in the design and manufacture of PV panels was conducted. Through a Design for Recycling (DfR) and a Design for Durability (DfD), the authors identified the optimal materials, the best geometries and geometric proportions as well as the most convenient geometric and dimensional tolerances in the couplings between the layers and the components that comprise the panel to attain the most current, efficient and effective solutions for recycling end-of-life (EoL) PV panels and for longer durability.

The ever-increasing number of electric vehicles produced, and therefore the highly in - creas ing number of retired automotive lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), calls for well-defined end of life strategies of retired batteries to promote the automotive industry's transition into an environmentally friendly industry. The paper aims to provide an insight into the status quo, the manufacturing considerations, the possible applications, the impacts, the barriers, and the potential solutions, as well as the required business strategies and policies of the end of life (EOL) management of retired automotive lithium-ion batteries (RALIBs). By applying a Regression Analysis to historical and forecasted data in Excel, the authors extrapolated a possible scenario of how the EOL management market of lithium-ion batteries in China might evolve during the next decade. The forecasted results showed that the LIB available for second life use in China might increase from 1.7 GWh in 2020 to 34.49 GWh in 2030. The authors conclude that there is an impera - tive need for new advanced policies concerning the EOL management of LIB, due to the significantly increased future volume of the retired lithium-ion batteries available for a second life in China inter-industry partnerships might be crucial to succeed that. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China has become the world's largest market for photovoltaic (PV). Effective management of end‐of‐life PV components is critical to the sustainable development of renewable energy. However, the scale of PV recycle industry is still small in China, and there is a lack of supporting policies and public attention. Issues and solutions regarding PV end‐of‐life management have not been well covered by the research community, and this article aimed at filling this gap. This article first examined the growing need for PV modules end‐of‐life management in China as a result of rapid PV installation expansion fueled by governments' policy promotion and fiscal incentives, especially with special programs such as the Photovoltaic Poverty Alleviation Initiative. Then, factors leading to the PV components recycling issues, policies adopted in other countries and regions to promote PV recycle, and various business modes that can be applied to enable PV recycle were reviewed. Finally, a more effective institutional hierarchy was presented for PV modules end‐of‐life management, with a set of specific recommendations on actions that can help strengthen PV end‐of‐life management. This article is categorized under:Photovoltaics > Economics and PolicyPhotovoltaics > Systems and Infrastructure [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Veterinarians have an important role in supporting and understanding their clients' grief. Veterinary schools have a duty to teach students how best to manage grief – both that of the students/future veterinarians and the clients. This study explores how grief management, associated with ending the life of an animal, was taught to students in eight Australasian veterinary schools. Methods: A questionnaire‐style interview guide was used by a representative at each university to conduct structured interviews with educators in a snowball sampling approach. Educators were interviewed about the teaching of grief management for four categories of animals: livestock, equine, companion and avian/wildlife. The terms used by participants to describe what they taught were grouped into common themes. Teaching was defined by individual participants and included structured and unstructured approaches. The stage in the degree (preclinical or clinical years) that grief management was taught in the veterinary curriculum and by whom (e.g. clinicians or psychologists) is also described. Results: Grief management was taught more in preclinical than clinical years. However, due to how grief was characterised, much of this teaching was general 'nonspecific' teaching that included all categories of animals. Client grief was taught more generically, whereas, grief of veterinarians was taught using specific examples given by clinicians. Conclusion: A more robust end‐of‐life (EoL) management curriculum that includes all aspects of grief management is likely to increase job satisfaction, client happiness and professional satisfaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

End-of-Life (EOL) product recovery is proved to be an attractive way to achieve sustainable manufacturing while extending the producer's responsibility to closed-loop product service. However, it is still a challenge to provide flexible and smart recovery plans for industrial equipment at different periods of product service. In this paper, we investigate the smart recovery decision-making problem. We propose a system framework for the implementation of smart EOL management based on product condition monitoring. Different product-level EOL business strategies and component-level recovery options are suggested in this recovery decision support system. Then, multi-objective optimization models are formulated to identify the age-dependent recovery roadmap that best matches the product condition and meets the business goals. In order to achieve environmentally friendly recovery, both recovery profits and energy performances are optimized in our models. We conduct a case study of belt lifter used in the automobile assembly line. The Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm II is used to solve the proposed model. Numerical experiments validate our models and provide practical insights into flexible recovery business. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The footwear industry, over the last years, has placed significant effort in improving energy and material efficiency, but in comparison little effort has been directed at the recovery and recycling of shoes at the end of their functional life. In reality, most worn and discarded (end-of-life) shoes are disposed of in landfills. Producer responsibility issues and forthcoming legislation as well as increasing environmental consumer demands are expected to challenge the way the global footwear industry deals with its end-of-life waste. This paper presents an investigation into the steps required to consider the end-of-life implication of shoes and promote post-consumer recycling practices in the footwear industry. The paper describes the design and specification of a decision-making model to identify the most appropriate reuse, recovery and recycling option for post-consumer shoes. Such a tool in addition to supporting design and material selection processes could also provide benchmark information for the selection of a best end-of-life practice for a selected range of shoe types. The paper concludes by providing a case study for shoe waste management to demonstrate the practicality of this decision-making model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solar photovoltaic (PV) waste and resource projections are integral for end-of-life (EoL) management. Addressing gaps in Australian studies, this paper aims to produce improved projections from 2022 to 2050. This study uses up-to-date, location-based installation data, distributed practical lifetime estimates by system size, current literature on market share and material composition over time and recovery rates, and provides a closed loop material analysis. In 2050, cumulative PV waste is estimated at 2,000,000–3,000,000 tonnes for slow, conservative, and realistic forecast installations, though under ambitious installs, waste will be 1–2 times more. Additionally, in 5 years PV EoL silver and aluminium could supply on average 30 % of future PV demand, 50 % in 15 years, and even up to 100 % in 25 years, considering realistic or ambitious forecast installations. These findings seek to assist in establishing sustainable EoL PV management, including the planning of logistics, appropriate recycling methods, consumer-appropriate policy, and the integration of circularity. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a context of transition towards a more circular economy (CE), this study undertakes an analysis of the appropriate transfers and applications of best managerial practices, regulations, and know-how from the automotive sector to the heavy vehicle one, as well as from the European Union (EU) to the United States of America (U.S.), and vice versa. While the EU appears to be a few steps ahead of policy activity regarding the management of end-of-life automotive vehicles (Directive 2000/53/EC and Extended Producer Responsibility principles), the U.S. heavy vehicle industry presents several aspirational industrial practices, including the collaboration between end-of-life actors, supporting parts remanufacturing and facilitating reuse. New empirical findings and lessons learned from both geographical regions are combined with the previous analyses to develop a benchmarking template of commendable CE practices. Against this background, the findings open on the remaining challenges and circular economy opportunities for both regions, as well as for emerging and newly industrialized countries, whose automotive markets are growing fast. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Even with a long lifetime of 25–30 years of green energy production, end-of-life treatment of solar photovoltaic modules can negatively impact the environment if not handled properly. This is particularly urgent when the use of photovoltaics has grown at an unprecedented rate, generating clean energy all over the world. Therefore, it is essential to develop commercially viable end-of-life recycling technologies to guarantee a sustainable future for the photovoltaic technology. Silicon photovoltaic modules, the most popular photovoltaic technology, have been shown to be economically unattractive for recycling - the materials are mixed and difficult to separate, and have low value, so that the cost of recycling is hardly recovered. In this paper, we review the state-of-art recycling technology and associate it with a quantitative economic assessment to breakdown the cost structure and better understand the presented economic barrier. The techno-economic review allows us to identify essential framework and technology changes required to overcome the current barrier to implementing commercial-scale recycling. (i) The authority may impose price signal to impress direct landfill of end-of-life modules while proactively establish an effective collection network. (ii) The local recyclers may aim at value recovery as a step beyond mass recovery, especially targeting at recovery of intact silicon wafers and silver to guarantee the recycling revenue. Meanwhile, efforts should be put on reducing the recycling processing cost. (iii) Photovoltaic module manufacturers may take end-of-life responsibilities and up-design the product to facilitate end-of-life recycling, which includes features for simple disassembly, recycling, and reducing or eliminating the use of toxic components. • Sustainable photovoltaic technology requires proper end-of-life management. • The techno-economic analysis reveals new insights to overcome the economic barrier. • Photovoltaic module recycling is a collaborative action among all stakeholders. • Upcycling can achieve maximum environmental and economic benefits. • Further technologies should aim at value recovery and up-front eco-design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While electric vehicles (EVs) have been promoted for green consumption, improper or inadequate management of end-of-life (EOL) EV batteries, as the current practice, compromises the benefits of EV adoption. This study aims to contribute to both theoretical research of material flow analysis and timely management of EOL EV batteries at various geographic scales (i.e., national, state, and county). Theoretically, this study tests two battery lifespan scenarios (i.e., constantly at 3–8 years and dynamically increasing over time), three discard probability functions (i.e., uniform, truncated normal, and Weibull), and three EV sale projections (i.e., low, moderate, and high). Results show that the short-term EOL volume (by 2025) can be particularly sensitive to the lifespan parameter. The long-term estimates involve most uncertainties related to the EV market penetration. Various discard probability functions generally derive similar results. In practical terms, the results suggest that necessary infrastructure for proper EOL EV battery management is needed sooner than the public may have perceived. This study urges for regional planning that incorporates both temporal and spatial considerations. To illustrate an example of regional solutions, this study adopts empirical data in California to simulate and spatially match EOL EV battery clusters and the renewable energy facilities that can potentially reuse EV batteries as energy storage. Meanwhile, the spatial mis-match between the supply and demand, as can be the case in other regions, calls for region-wide coordination in terms of both infrastructure development and transportation planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • CDDPath provides CDD disposition estimates that complement generation estimates. • The CDDPath method combines waste characterization estimates with US state and industry data. • ∼140 MMT of CDD materials were estimated to go to landfill in 2014. • ∼400 MMT of CDD materials were estimated to be recovered for further use in 2014. Abstract National generation estimates for seven material types in the construction and demolition debris stream are regularly published in the United States. However, the quantities of these materials in different end-of-life management pathways are not published or otherwise made available. Quantification of end-of-life management pathways is useful for identifying approaches to decrease disposal and increase material recovery. An issue for construction and demolition debris is that data needed for a nationwide estimate of management pathways are not tracked in a single system. We propose and outline a method that draws on a combination of data sources, including nationwide generation estimates, state data, industry association data, and recovery facility reports. Capturing the available data and using the proposed method, we can estimate what end-of-life pathways are used for the seven materials in the US Environmental Protection Agency's annual reports of CDD generation (steel, wood products, drywall and plaster, brick and clay tile, asphalt shingles, concrete and asphalt concrete), and five additional materials managed within the CDD waste stream (carpet, plastic, glass, cardboard and organics). Method results indicate that the vast majority of CDD concrete and asphalt pavement, which in 2014 constituted ∼78% of the overall mass of the stream's components, were reclaimed for use, primarily in road projects. A significant opportunity for material recovery still exists for the remaining ∼22% of the stream. In 2014, approximately 64% of these remaining materials in the US was ultimately routed for landfill disposal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Remanufacturing is one of the most critical strategies for end-of-life product management to promote a circular economy; however, it has been seen very limited implementation due to the labor-intensive and time-consuming disassembly processes for component retrieval. The newly emerged 4D printing technology enables the fabrication of stimuli-responsive reconfigurable structures, outlining new ways to achieve non-destructive and simultaneous self-disassembly of components with different geometry. However, large uncertainties and increased process dynamics have also emerged directly pertaining to the real-time scheduling in disassembly lines with self-disassembly workstations, which the existing scheduling methods are not equipped to handle. In this study, a constrained multi-agent deep reinforcement learning approach is proposed to maximize the disassembly profit by dynamically changing the batch mixing ratios of different-sized components in self-disassembly workstations and adapting real-time scheduling to stochastic product quality, changes in operational sequences, and self-disassembly failures. The proposed approach is validated on a disassembly line for hand pulse detectors that contain heat-activated self-disassembly components. Numerical results show that the proposed achieves stable convergence under uncertainties, and the implementation of a dynamic batch mixing scheme in self-disassembly operations yields a substantial improvement in disassembly profit over the scheduling period. In addition, sensitivity analyses are conducted to evaluate the impacts of system uncertainties on the profitability of the disassembly line. • Disassembly of used products with 4D printed self-disassembling parts is studied. • A deep reinforcement learning method is proposed for dynamic disassembly scheduling. • The proposed approach can effectively tackle uncertainties in disassembly processes. • Dynamic batch mixing of different-sized parts ensures efficient self-disassembly. • Failure to stimuli activate self-disassembly adversely affects disassembly profits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Identification of goat lameness on farm is typically recognised as either an overt gait abnormality or non-weight bearing limbs. Subclinical and chronic laminitis in goats tends to present as a mild, uneven gait with abnormally shaped claws; it is possible that animals with these symptoms are experiencing pain, however due to our reliance on overt gait changes, they will not be identified to receive appropriate management, potentially leaving them in a chronic state of suffering. This case study identified the pathological changes associated with laminitis, with a hypothesis that mild lameness does not always correlate with severity of disease process. Three Saanen does, part of a research herd but originally sourced from a commercial milking herd in New Zealand, were suspected to have chronic laminitis. Following photographs, radiographs and infrared thermography, goats were euthanised and claw longitudinal sections were taken; tissue was submitted for histology. Two goats stood and walked normally, and one also stood normally but walked with a slight uneven gait; all goats presented various hoof conformation issues. Radiographs showed distal phalanx remodelling and rotation in all three cases. Post-mortem hoof longitudinal sections and histology presented multiple abnormalities, including but not limited to: irregular cortex of the distal phalanx, distended blood vessels in the dermis and laminae, laminae necrosis, development of abnormal fibrous tissue, and distorted laminae epidermal cells. Histology from two of the goats confirmed the presence of dermal inflammation, and this was seen visually in one goat using infrared thermography. Our case study approach allowed for detailed physical and histological examination of the changes caused by laminitis in ex-commercial dairy goats. This work suggests that chronic laminitis can result in dramatic pathological changes, and that lameness score alone is not a good indication of the severity of these changes. Better interpretation of external abnormalities, such as clubbed and distorted claws, as well as the use of radiographs and infrared thermography, should be more commonly considered for identifying at risk animals in order to initiate appropriate management or end-of-life decisions. • Goats, formerly from a commercial farm, were monitored for subclinical laminitis. • Dramatic hoof abnormalities observed (clubbing, distortion, high heels, raised toes). • Radiographs showed distal phalanx remodelling and rotation. • Post-mortem hoof longitudinal sections and histology showed multiple abnormalities. • Chronic laminitis can produce hoof changes without resulting lameness. • Multifaceted approach needed for appropriate management or end-of-life decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contrary to other wind turbine components such as steel towers, concrete foundations and the high value metals used in generator linings, whose end-of-life is properly described in life cycle assessment (LCA) studies, composite blades have proven to be the sustainability blind spot of wind energy systems. The reason for this is that end-of-life management of composite wind blades is a complex engineering problem which depends on the actual design of the blade, its material composition, the availability of recycling technology, legislation and requisite infrastructure, as well as the economics of the process itself—including the logistics of transportation, dismantling, etc. This paper offers a comprehensive analysis of current and potential decommissioning scenarios for end-of-life composite wind blades. Based on 40, in depth, semi-structured interviews with North American and European wind energy experts and a meta-analysis of 52 LCAs of wind energy this paper argues that over approximately the next 5 years, the wind industry will face a significant challenge: as the focus on sustainability engineering and product stewardship shifts the waste disposal responsibility to original equipment and component manufacturers, wind system LCAs may include—and may increasingly become more important in determining—end-of-life scenarios for composite blade waste. It is still too early to ascertain whether LCA will determine the future of composite wind blade recycling by either promoting or legitimizing a certain scenario over another. Nevertheless, as LCAs becoming increasingly more popular in both wind energy and composite recycling, a likely conclusion is that as more economically viable recycling options become available, LCAs will examine the decommissioning phase of used and damaged blades in more detail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With 270 million light vehicles and 20 million heavy-duty and off-road (HDOR) vehicles in use in the European Union, automotive and HDOR industries are two major sectors in the European economy. Each year, 12 million light vehicles plus 1 million HDOR vehicles reach their end-of-life. In a context of circular economy, following questions are of growing concern. To what extent is the circular economy achieved and implemented in the automotive and HDOR sectors? What industrial practices and regulations are prevalent and commendable in the light of the circular economy? While the end-of-life management of light vehicles − subjected to the ELV Directive 2000/53/EC – is widely studied in literature, the end-of-life stage of HDOR vehicles has been neglected for a long time from a research perspective. To fill this gap, extensive literature survey and in-depth investigations on the industrial ground are conducted. Key factors – i.e. regulations, business models and markets evolution, new and emerging technologies integration – affecting the circular economy performance of automotive and HDOR sectors are analysed. Notably, not only lessons learned from best industrial practices but also remaining challenges for a more circular economy are highlighted. Both industries are compared through the four buildings blocks of the circular economy and the four possible feedback loops defined by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation. As a result, this research contribution could lead to practical applications, for instance, in supporting industrial practitioners or policy makers to realize the opportunities and challenges of closing the loops of HDOR vehicles from different perspectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]