Making Manufacturing Sustainable by Design

The report advocates for a transition from a linear 'production and consumption' model to a circular economy by leveraging advanced manufacturing technologies for 'Re-X' (reuse, remanufacturing, and recycling). It highlights that remanufactured products can reduce CO2 emissions by up to 98% and identifies a €30 billion market for remanufacturing in Europe. The document proposes a comprehensive set of recommendations, including the adoption of 'product-as-a-service' business models, the creation of international legal definitions for circular terms, and the reform of engineering education to prioritize environmental impact alongside cost and performance. It also emphasizes the need for extended producer responsibility and the removal of trade barriers for used products destined for remanufacture.

• Remanufactured products offer significant environmental benefits, potentially reducing CO2 emissions by up to 98% compared to new equivalent products.
• Despite its potential, remanufacturing currently represents only about 2% of the manufacturing equivalent by value in surveyed sectors in both Europe and the USA, though it is a €30 billion market in Europe.
• The transition to a circular economy is hindered by traditional business models that design products for limited life without repairability, as well as a lack of reliable tools to assess product condition at end-of-life.
• The report recommends shifting from product sales to 'product-as-a-service' models, such as leasing or subscriptions, to encourage product returns and extended use.
• Engineering education requires systemic change to integrate environmental impact, repairability, and material recovery into the core design process rather than treating them as specialty courses.

APA

World Economic Forum (2019). Making Manufacturing Sustainable by Design. http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Making_Manufacturing_Sustainable_by_Design_Report.pdf

Chicago

World Economic Forum. Making Manufacturing Sustainable by Design. 2019. http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Making_Manufacturing_Sustainable_by_Design_Report.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=World Economic Forum |title=Making Manufacturing Sustainable by Design |date=October 2019 |url=http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Making_Manufacturing_Sustainable_by_Design_Report.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{worldeconomicforum2019making, author = {{World Economic Forum}}, title = {{Making Manufacturing Sustainable by Design}}, institution = {World Economic Forum}, year = {2019}, month = oct, url = {http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Making_Manufacturing_Sustainable_by_Design_Report.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }