Project Objectives
Objectives
The project addresses the current lack of industrial processes dedicated to the reuse of large household appliances particularly washing machines and their components. To achieve this, the consortium will develop, optimize, and validate an innovative semi-automatic treatment line capable of dismantling, sorting, repairing, and preparing washing machines and components for reuse.
The project will also explore new sales and distribution channels, both physical and online, to test a viable market model for refurbished appliances sold at half the cost or less of new products.
Specific Objectives
• Scaling-up: industrial-scale deployment of a semi-automatic line for selective separation of washing machine components.
• Repairability: demonstration of the ability to repair a significant share of collected end-of-life washing machines.
• Component reuse: preparation for reuse of large quantities of components identified through the separation line.
• Material recovery: optimization of shredding and sorting technologies to obtain high-quality secondary raw materials.
• Business model sustainability: validation of an economically viable and consumer-oriented model for refurbished appliances and spare parts.
• Environmental impact: demonstration of significant reductions in energy use, emissions, water consumption, and waste compared to conventional recycling practices.
Expected Results
• 55,000 washing machines collected and managed (≈ 2,964 tons)
• 10% of appliances repaired and put back into circulation
• 44% reduction in hazardous waste (≈ 1,312 tons/year)
• 18% of components prepared for reuse (≈ 823 tons/year)
• 95% energy savings, equivalent to 15.06 GWh/year
• 93% reduction in CO₂-equivalent emissions, equal to 3,689 tons/year
• 97% water savings, corresponding to 960,615 m³/year
• Pilot sale of 500 refurbished washing machines to evaluate market acceptance