Report on the remanufacturing of refrigerated display cabinets

©Centre for Remanufacturing & Reuse 2009
Potentially this can reduce the amount of power used by a third when the blinds
are down. However, such savings require appropriate training and use by retail
staff.
Smaller design changes which do not affect the function or aesthetics of the
cabinet can also reduce the use of electricity. Improving airflow within the cabinet
or fitting more efficient fans can lead to energy savings of 6-7%. More recently
technology such as energy efficient LEDs has been used to reduce the lighting
power consumption. However these are not appropriate in certain cases as the
colour spectrum of LEDs can perturb retail customers.
These new technologies and designs do not require a significant change in case
design and manufacture, and can easily be incorporated as part of the
remanufacture process. Changes in fans and shelf design during remanufacture
allow RDCs to be brought into line with the latest energy efficiency specification.
If these design alterations are not made, the large contribution to CO 2 e emissions
from the in-use phase mean that the environmental benefit of remanufacturing
can be negated. Therefore within this study we assume that new and
remanufactured RDCs have equivalent energy consumption, lifetime and
performance.
2.4 RDC carbon footprint
Description of Model
To assess the carbon footprint associated with manufacture, and the potential
material and carbon savings possible through remanufacture, we evaluate two
different pathways, Figure 2.1.
An identical path is followed by both units until they reach their end of life: both
therefore undergo initial manufacture and use phases. After this point two
different routes are taken. In the case of Route A the original unit is disposed of
either through recycling or landfill. An entirely new RDC is then manufactured,
which undergoes another use and disposal cycle. If Route B is followed, the
original RDC unit is remanufactured and is returned as new for use. Therefore a
single remanufacturing cycle will replace the manufacture of an entirely new unit
and the corresponding extra disposal required. A more complete description of
this methodology can be found in our previous work. 67
6 Carbon footprint of tyres: new versus remanufactured, 2008, CRR
7 Toner refills and cartridge world: Comparative carbon footprints, 2008, CRR
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