One of the most significant outcomes has been the creation of new circular supply chain linkages. Instead of treating production waste as a residual output, ELVEZ has established cooperation with selected suppliers and partners who design and manufacture assembly devices. Recovered and sorted wire materials are now supplied for the production of these devices, enabling the reuse of materials within the wider production ecosystem and reducing the demand for virgin resources. A key enabler of this development has been transparent and structured data sharing. ELVEZ connected its operations to dedicated platforms and partner networks where material-related data is exchanged along the supply chain. This includes material datasheets, REACH and RoHS certificates, and other compliance and quality documentation.
By sharing this information with suppliers and partners, ELVEZ has increased trust, traceability and efficiency, while ensuring that circular solutions meet regulatory and technical requirements. Internally, the outcomes of the CIRCOTRONIC project have been integrated into daily operations. New process diagrams were developed to reflect circular practices and secondary material loops and were incorporated into the existing wire harness production process flow. These updated process maps allow employees and partners to clearly understand how recovered materials are reintroduced, how quality is controlled, and how circular decision points are embedded in production planning.
In parallel, ELVEZ has begun applying the 6R methodology (Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Repair, Rework, Recycle) within its wire harness production processes. This approach supports systematic decision-making at each stage of production, helping to prevent waste generation, prioritise reuse and rework, and ensure that recycling remains the last option. In several production steps, this methodology is already delivering measurable improvements in material efficiency and process stability.
The CIRCOTRONIC project has thus enabled ELVEZ to move beyond isolated pilot testing towards a holistic circular transformation that connects production, supply chains and data management. The experience confirms that circularity in EEE manufacturing is not only a technical challenge, but also an organisational and collaborative one, requiring new forms of cooperation across value chains.
ELVEZ’s journey within CIRCOTRONIC shows how targeted pilot actions, combined with transnational collaboration and knowledge exchange, can lead to durable changes in industrial practice. By creating new circular supply chains, improving transparency and embedding circular principles into production processes, ELVEZ contributes to a more resilient, resource-efficient and sustainable future for EEE manufacturing.
Written by Žiga Gosar, ELVEZ