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Autodesk across industries and actors, but its defining characteristic
lies in its ambition to extend product lifecycles while retaining
both functional value and brand integrity.
From a sustainability perspective, remanufacturing offers
several advantages compared to linear production. By reusing
existing components and materials, remanufacturing can

substantially reduce the demand for virgin resources, lower
waste generation, and decrease environmental impacts across
the product lifecycle.
model. While IKEA plays a leading role in shaping the global These benefits are particularly relevant in manufacturing
furniture industry and advancing circular initiatives, replicating sectors where products are material-intensive and designed
such strategies at the SME level involves business-related risks for long use phases, such as the furniture industry.
due to limited resources and scalability challenges. In addition to material efficiency, remanufacturing has
been associated with significant reductions in energy use and
Remanufacturing As A Circular Strategy emissions compared to new production, making it an important

Remanufacturing is one of several circular strategies aimed strategy for improving environmental and energy performance.
at extending product lifecycles and retaining value within Remanufacturing is widely recognised for its environmental
material flows. benefits, with several studies demonstrating reductions in
Circular strategies are often conceptualised using the 10R material and energy use.
framework, which ranges from strategies such as Refuse Life cycle assessments show that remanufactured products
and Rethink at the most preventive level, to Repair, Reuse, can significantly lower environmental impacts compared to new
Refurbish, and Remanufacture, and finally Recycle and Recover production. Sectoral shifts such as automotive electrification

at the lowest level of value retention. further influence the environmental potential of remanufacturing.
Within this hierarchy, remanufacturing represents a In addition, design approaches that support automated
comparatively high-value strategy, as it aims to restore used remanufacturing can enhance resource efficiency.
products or components to a condition comparable to new
products in terms of functionality and performance, while Open Innovation
preserving much of the embedded material, labour, and energy. Open innovation refers to the purposeful management
Remanufacturing is commonly defined as an industrial of cross boundary knowledge flows to enhance learning,
process in which used products are systematically disassembled, competitiveness, and innovation in production and market
cleaned, inspected, repaired or upgraded, and reassembled development. This is enabled through outside in, inside out,

to meet predefined quality standards. and coupled processes.
Unlike repair or refurbishment, which typically address Open innovation has been highlighted as an interactive
specific defects or aesthetic degradation, remanufacturing process of collaborative knowledge exchange involving
involves a more comprehensive and standardised process partnerships with customers, suppliers, competitors, and
and often includes warranty conditions similar to those of universities.
new products. Open innovation is not automatically beneficial; its outcomes
The practical interpretation of remanufacturing may vary depend on industry context, the costs and risks associated with