Abstract
Design for disassembly (DfD) has the potential to reduce environmental burdens by promoting the recovery of materials and subassemblies in products at the end of their lives and reducing waste management processes. Many researchers have developed decision-making methodologies that determine how to maximize the economical and environmental benefits of end-of-life processing under variable end-of-life situations. However, the potential reductions of environmental burdens associated with introducing DfD have rarely been evaluated. In this paper, we developed a method to estimate the potential reductions of environmental burdens and to visualize changes for the optimal disassembling sequence by using an AND/OR graph when DfD is incorporated. We assumed the optimal sequence was the one that has the highest total economic value among the possible sequences. Environmental burdens associated with the optimal disassembly sequence before and after the introduction of DfD were evaluated for the potential reduction. The processes evaluated include dismantling, shredding and mechanical sorting, mechanical recycling, and landfill. Using the method we developed, a case study was conducted on an electrical hot-water pot. The optimal sequence was obtained, and it indicated 200 yen profit and 7.6kg CO2 reduction potential. The introduction of DfD could further reduce the CO2 emissions by 0.3kg.
