LoopSpeaker: Reuse of car speakers

Important results from the project

The aim of the project to identify prerequisites and propose to reuse the speakers in an audio application outside of the car has been met including the physical prototype. The goal to investigate how to create an effective circular system for the speakers where the prerequisites are already in the design stage has been met. We also looked at the potential of extracting more of other valuable materials, eg. electronics while dismantling speakers, however the potential is very low.

Expected long term effects

By mapping the possibilities, and practically demonstrating how the reuse of car speakers can be realized in a business-oriented and industrial way, the project illustrated how more of a car´s components can be handled in a circular way in connection with the end of its life. Sharing the insights and lessons learned from the practical work with the prototype, helped to identify criteria for Design for Disassembly and more of a circular design, that would contribute to an increased circularity of a car already at the design stage.

Approach and implementation

The project constituted of 5 Work Packages and the activities included: -Mapping of flows and types of available speakers -Desktop research and material flow analysis -Teardown of speakers and weighing components -Analysis of dismantling activities of speakers including time analysis -Circular system value chain mapping -Analysis of circular design criteria and reuse loops for increased circularity -Development of a concept design and physical prototype of an audio application -Simple calculations of climate and economic potential to reuse speakers.