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Digital Twins for the Circular Economy

Author

Listed:
  • Anna Preut

    (Fraunhofer Institute for Material Flow and Logistics IML, 44227 Dortmund, Germany)

  • Jan-Philip Kopka

    (Fraunhofer Institute for Material Flow and Logistics IML, 44227 Dortmund, Germany)

  • Uwe Clausen

    (Fraunhofer Institute for Material Flow and Logistics IML, 44227 Dortmund, Germany)

Abstract

Accurate information plays an important role for the circulation of materials and products. It influences the economically and ecologically successful execution of processes such as reconditioning and the corresponding supply chain management. Digitization concepts, such as digital twins, enable the relevant information to be made available to the right actor at the right time in a decentralized manner. It is assumed that digital twins will play an important role in the future and can contribute, among other things, to the successful implementation of circular economy strategies. However, there is no uniform definition of the term digital twin yet and the exploration and use of digital twins in the context of circular economy products and supply chains is still in its infancy. This article presents potential contributions of digital twins to the circularity of products and the management of circular supply chains. To this end, the derivation and validation of a definition for the term digital twin is described. A stakeholder analysis with a special focus on the processes of the individual stakeholders results in an overview of potentials and information requirements of circular supply chains for a digital twin. The paper concludes that circular supply chains can benefit from digital twins, but that there is still a need for research and development, particularly regarding product and use case-specific implementations of the concept.

Suggested Citation

  • Anna Preut & Jan-Philip Kopka & Uwe Clausen, 2021. "Digital Twins for the Circular Economy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-15, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:18:p:10467-:d:639552
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ramesh Subramoniam & Erik Sundin & Suresh Subramoniam & Donald Huisingh, 2021. "Riding the Digital Product Life Cycle Waves towards a Circular Economy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-23, August.
    2. Kirchherr, Julian & Reike, Denise & Hekkert, Marko, 2017. "Conceptualizing the circular economy: An analysis of 114 definitions," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 127(C), pages 221-232.
    3. Rocío González-Sánchez & Davide Settembre-Blundo & Anna Maria Ferrari & Fernando E. García-Muiña, 2020. "Main Dimensions in the Building of the Circular Supply Chain: A Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-25, March.
    4. Gianmarco Bressanelli & Federico Adrodegari & Marco Perona & Nicola Saccani, 2018. "Exploring How Usage-Focused Business Models Enable Circular Economy through Digital Technologies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(3), pages 1-21, February.
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    Cited by:

    1. Gianmarco Bressanelli & Federico Adrodegari & Daniela C. A. Pigosso & Vinit Parida, 2022. "Circular Economy in the Digital Age," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-6, May.
    2. Gianmarco Bressanelli & Federico Adrodegari & Daniela C. A. Pigosso & Vinit Parida, 2022. "Towards the Smart Circular Economy Paradigm: A Definition, Conceptualization, and Research Agenda," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-20, April.
    3. Janine Mügge & Julian Grosse Erdmann & Theresa Riedelsheimer & Marvin Michael Manoury & Sophie-Odette Smolka & Sabine Wichmann & Kai Lindow, 2023. "Empowering End-of-Life Vehicle Decision Making with Cross-Company Data Exchange and Data Sovereignty via Catena-X," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-24, April.
    4. Xianhai Meng & Simran Das & Junyu Meng, 2023. "Integration of Digital Twin and Circular Economy in the Construction Industry," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(17), pages 1-14, September.

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