Factory resource and energy efficiency through digitalization (FREED) - P2030 prestudy

Research Project, 2022 – 2023

Manufacturing companies must implement greener practices to contribute to sustainable development using approaches such eco-efficiency and circular economy, i.e. creating social and economic value while minimising the environmental impact of production through efficient, closed-loop circulation of resources. FREED aims to use industrial digitalisation as a enabler to measure manufacturing systems’ environmental performance more holistically and support continuous improvements towards eco-efficient, climate-friendly and circular production systems.

To deliver the expected impacts of the Produktion2030 strategic innovation programme, FREED will anchor its operating principles in eco-efficiency to reduce material and energy intensity (increase efficiency and eliminate or minimize waste), reduce toxicity (eliminate or minimize environmental impacts), increase sustainable use of renewable sources (for both energy and materials), retain value (circular strategies for product life extension and material waste valorisation) and increase service intensity (product-service systems and industrial services).

To achieve the objective of FREED, we will focus on digital solutions for environmental sustainability at factory level. The feasibility study will review current practices and systems in place at the partners’ manufacturing sites to evaluate the applicability of various environmental tools, methods, and indicators. Core activities will include process mapping, data inventory, maturity assessments, and gap analysis to identify existing strengths and define areas of improvement to boost the environmental performance of production systems.