RE-ELECTRO 4 LIFE is an international project implemented under the European Union’s LIFE Programme, aimed at introducing an innovative circular economy (CE) business model in the heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVACR) sector. The project focuses on the re-use of spare parts from waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE), rather than their exclusive material recycling.
The objective of the RE-ELECTRO 4 LIFE project is to demonstrate and implement a scalable RE-USE model that enables the recovery, testing, and remarketing of functional spare parts from decommissioned refrigeration and air conditioning equipment. This model makes it possible to significantly extend the lifecycle of HVACR devices and reduce the amount of waste and greenhouse gas emissions.
Specific objectives
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The RE-ELECTRO 4 LIFE project addresses a significant market gap — the lack of systemic solutions enabling the reuse of parts from refrigeration and air conditioning equipment. Previous waste management models focused primarily on material recycling, overlooking the potential of RE-USE and extending the lifecycle of components. The project introduces a significantly improved process encompassing standardised equipment dismantling, advanced technical diagnostics of components, full traceability of parts in IT systems, and the remarketing of functional elements. The model developed within RE-ELECTRO 4 LIFE is ready for commercial use and can be replicated in other EU countries, serving as an example of a scalable and sustainable approach to the circular economy in the HVACR sector.
Free collection of electrical wasteThe project includes free collection of electrical waste, covering used refrigeration and air conditioning equipment classified under waste codes 16 02 11* and 16 02 14. Eligible items include air conditioners (split, multi-split, VRF, VRV), water chillers, heat pumps, compressors, and commercial refrigeration equipment. This activity supports the safe and environmentally compliant management of electrical waste and enables the maximisation of recovery of reusable parts. |
The RE-ELECTRO 4 LIFE project places particular emphasis on disseminating results and educating both the industry and the general public. Communication activities include the project website and social media, technical webinars and industry meetings, as well as participation in both national and international trade fairs and conferences. Additionally, the project encompasses open events for stakeholders and the public, along with information campaigns reaching over one million recipients, raising awareness of spare part reuse, the circular economy, and sustainable practices in the HVACR sector.
As part of the project, a state-of-the-art processing facility for used refrigeration and air conditioning equipment is being established — RE-ELECTRO PLANT. The facility is equipped with equipment dismantling lines, diagnostic stations, an automated storage system, a photovoltaic installation, and advanced IT infrastructure supporting the entire parts recovery and sales process. The facility enables the safe and environmentally compliant processing of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE), while maximising the recovery of reusable components, contributing to an effective circular economy in the HVACR sector.
The project includes the implementation of integrated IT systems that support the entire process of parts recovery, diagnostics, and sales. The following systems operate within the project:
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1 Electrical waste collection application – enables customers to easily submit used equipment, manage collection logistics, and integrate with the system. |
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2 Expert system (Wrocław University of Technology) – supports the dismantling, diagnostics, cataloguing, and preparation of parts sales offers. |
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3 ERP system (K-NET) – handles waste records, warehousing, sales, e-commerce integration, automated shelving, and external systems such as BDO and KSeF. |
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4 E-commerce platform – enables customers from across Europe to purchase verified spare parts, supporting the expansion of the distribution network and the “second life” model for HVACR components. |
RE-ELECTRO 4 LIFE contributes to the implementation of key EU policies, including the European Green Deal, the WEEE and Ecodesign Directives, and the resource efficiency strategy. The project demonstrates that the reuse of spare parts can be a viable, cost-effective, and scalable element of the HVACR sector’s transition towards a circular economy.
