Investigating good practices in the circular economy related to Electrical and Electronic Equipment (EEE) through the European Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform (ECESP)

The pervasive integration of electronic technologies in the contemporary digital landscape underscores the paramount significance of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE). Beyond their indispensable utility in daily life, certain components within EEE, such as precious metals and Rare Earth Elements (REEs), hold classification as critical raw materials (CRMs), pivotal for the European economy. Within urban contexts, the proliferation of electronic devices transforms cities into reservoirs or urban mines. This issue not only underscores the inherent value within EEEs but also highlights the necessity of optimizing its sustainable consumption and production patterns at all stages of the life cycle and across various sectors. The optimization of the complete product life cycle serves as a foundational pillar of the circular economy (CE). While the transition from a linear to a CE has been a longstanding objective promoted by the EU, a comprehensive mapping elucidating potential shortcoming in the effective implementation of this transition in Europe for the field of EEE remains elusive. This paper seeks to investigate the state-of-the-art of CE good practices for EEEs in Europe, shedding light on potential strengths and challenges to be addressed. To obtain an empirical perspective, the European Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform (ECESP) serves as a tool to delineate the trajectory of progress throughout the transition to a CE. The analysis encompasses both life cycle phases and the production sector. The findings underscore a prevailing focus on the product's end-of-life phase and sectors associated with recycling and waste management, while the initial life cycle phase remains underexplored in terms of eco-design solutions or innovative processes. On a positive note, several instances of new business models have emerged, redirecting consumption emphasis towards services.