Refining Design Approaches and Implementing the Material Matrix Assessment to Foster Structural Components Circularity

Integrating eco-design strategies is crucial when developing sustainable structural components. In the automotive industry, eco-design strategies are becoming essential as the industry faces pressure to reduce its carbon footprint and comply with regulations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Integrating these strategies into vehicles' design and manufacturing processes can significantly improve resource efficiency and reduce emissions, e.g. using lightweight and recyclable materials, such as aluminium, carbon fibre composites, and bio-based plastics, can enhance fuel efficiency and minimise energy consumption. Consequently, refining the eco-design strategies can participate in shifting from traditional linear production into circular design, i.e., using design for repair, reuse, refurbishment, and recycling approaches can limit the generation of waste products and reduce the pressure on the environment by reducing the need to extract raw materials. Several studies explained the best approach to selecting the proper design strategies, and more needs to be done on how the design strategies can be applied to support product circularity. It is crucial to understand that implementing eco-design strategies is challenging, and the main challenge is that product designers and manufacturers need knowledge and awareness. Consequently, incentives to implement eco-design strategies are still immature, and many companies focus on short-term profits rather than long-term sustainability. The archival value of this report is to: