TTS Network @ EFFRA WG Circular online meeting 26 June 2024

Today:

• Data integration: manufacturers face difficulties in integrating disparate data sources across product lifecycle due to their variable reliability, quality, frequency, and providing technologies.   Exploitation of simulated data
• Cost: the high initial investment required for simulation and data infrastructure
• Expertise: there is a lack of specialized skills in moving from data to knowledge, on sustainable manufacturing, especially for SMEs.

Near future:

• Regulatory pressure: stricter environmental regulations will necessitate more transparent circularity practices, including visibility on feeding data, shared calculation algorithms, univocal reference to applicable standards.
• Market demand: growing consumer awareness and demand for sustainable/circular products will pressure companies to innovate continuously and communicate the achieved goals.
• Technological evolution: which are the roles Artificial Intelligence, emerging sustainable technologies and materials may play in sustainable transition?

To prioritise:

• Mainstreaming sustainability: moving from expert LCA consultants to non-expert decision makers, interested in minimizing the impact of their  design or production choices without deep diving into the subject.
• Comprehensiveness, in terms of: Breadth of functionalities, Point of view, Regulation
• From assessing to acting: Advisory. Effective assessment is only originating questions. Answers are often hard to identify, so effective comparison, simulation, advisory functionalities are essential to the scope.