Design for end-of-life of small electrical appliances. Case study for electric toothbrushes

The tightening of environmental legislation has driven new requirements that products must meet. Currently, manufacturers of electrical and electronic equipment are responsible for the revaluation of their products to the levels dictated by regulations. This article deals with the optimization of the end-of-life of electric toothbrushes, using Design for Disassembly and Recycling methods. The main objective is to comply with the requirements established in regulations regarding electrical and electronic equipment and the management of its waste (WEEE). The study analyzes how design decisions influence the ease of recovery of materials and components, proposing strategies to improve the eco-efficiency of the product at the end of its useful life.

Authors: Daniel Collado-Ruiz, Ana Virginia Ruescas-Nicolau, Rosario Viñoles-Cebolla, María José Bastante-Ceca, and Bélgica Pacheco-Blanco Journal: Dyna Year: 2008