Overview

Digi4Circular is a Horizon Europe project tackling the environmental impact of the automotive sector, which is responsible for 14% of global greenhouse gas emissions and consumes vast amounts of raw materials, particularly aluminium. By promoting the use of secondary aluminium and embedding circularity principles into product development, the project aims to significantly reduce emissions and material waste. It delivers a powerful digital platform that integrates automated design workflows, machine learning, and life cycle analysis to support the creation of circular products. A key component of this approach is a Digital Product Passport that captures and shares life cycle data across the value chain, ensuring traceability and compliance. The platform also supports workforce reskilling and minimizes digital waste through AI-optimized data management, paving the way for a more sustainable and digitally enabled manufacturing future.

Objectives/Ambition

The overall goal of the Digi4Circular project is to transform product development by embedding circularity principles from the design phase and leveraging advanced technologies to optimize workflows and material usage. By addressing the entire product life cycle, the project seeks to create sustainable and economically viable solutions for the automotive industry.

  1. Create a shared information space to gather and manage data from all stakeholders involved in the product lifecycle.
  2. Increase the use of recycled aluminium in automotive components to make production more sustainable.
  3. Design products with circularity in mind and assess their environmental impact throughout their lifecycle. The overall goal of the Digi4Circular project is to transform product development by embedding circularity principles from the design phase and leveraging advanced technologies to optimize workflows and material usage. By addressing the entire product life cycle, the project seeks to create sustainable and economically viable solutions for the automotive industry.
  4. Create a shared information space to gather and manage data from all stakeholders involved in the product lifecycle.
  5. Increase the use of recycled aluminium in automotive components to make production more sustainable.
  6. Design products with circularity in mind and assess their environmental impact throughout their lifecycle.

Project facts

Acronym:

Digi4Circular

Full title:

Digital platform for data-driven and physics-based product development enabling a circular economy

Grant Agreement no:

101177586

Start Date:

01/11/2024

End Date:

30/4/2028

Duration in months:

42

Project budget:

€ 5 764 108.00

Funding scheme:

Research and Innovation Action (RIA)

Funding Programme:

Horizon Europe

Call identifier:

HORIZON-CL4-2024-TWIN-TRANSITION-01

Keywords:

Mechanical engineering, Digital product development; Circular product design; Environmental impact calculation; Circular material design; Digital Product Passport; Knowledge Extraction; Engineering platform

Impact

  • The Digi4Circular project aims to deliver significant environmental, economic, and technological benefits by transforming the way products are designed, manufactured, and managed throughout their life cycle. By fostering a circular economy, the project aims to reduce waste, lower emissions, and promote sustainable development.
  • Environmental Benefits: Reduces the environmental impact of aluminium casting in the automotive industry by promoting the use of secondary aluminium and optimizing end-of-life scenarios.
  • Innovative Solutions: Provides advanced computational methods and digital tools for sustainable product development.
  • Data-Driven Decisions: Enables informed decision-making through comprehensive life cycle data integration.