Una mirada académica a un futuro sostenible. diseño de productos en el ámbito de la economía circular

Abstract

This study is part of one line of teaching and research carried out in Project subjects of the School of Industrial Engineering of the University of Valladolid. The starting point is the contribution of engineering to the circular economy, understood as a concept related to sustainability with the aim of maintaining the value of products, materials, and natural resources as long as possible, minimising waste generation. In our case, the main objective of the work is obtaining more durable products, which can be repaired, reused, or recycled, as it is established in the European Green Deal. To reach this goal, collaborative projects have been carried out for "small household appliances" whose typology is present in Annex II of RD 110/2015, of 20 February, on waste electrical and electronic equipment. The specific objectives of this initiative have been encouraging students, future engineers, to design sustainable products, as well as to analyze and to put into practice new manufacturing processes based on the circular economy.