Targeted value chains, waste streams and materials
As pilot areas, NEW_InnoNet focuses on the electronic, automotive and packaging chains. Currently these chains create high environmental impacts generating waste streams such as waste from electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE), End-of-Life Vehicles (ELVs) and plastic packaging waste, which could be converted into new raw materials such as plastics, metals and minerals. These waste streams represent significant potential for recovery of materials within the value chain, and can provide lessons-learnt and best practices for other value chains and sectors.
New-InnoNet distinguishes between value chains, waste streams and raw materials and focuses on three value chains:
- electronics
- automotive and
- fast moving consumer goods
Each of these value chains generates waste. The respective waste streams are:
- Waste Electric and Electronic Equipment (WEEE)
- End-of-Life Vehicles
- Packaging waste
The waste streams, if properly treated , lead to raw materials such as metals, plastics and minerals that can be used by a variety of sectors and value chains. The choice for these three value chains was based on three main criteria:
- volume and thus the potential to achieve environmental benefits
- presence of the waste throughout Europe
- potential for transferability of the future use cases