Circular Electronics: Co-Creating Repair Strategies for Berlin

Germany’s National Circular Economy Strategy has made electronics a key focus for circularity. Despite this, electronic device lifespans continue to shrink, repair rates remain low, and waste volumes are rising. In 2022, electronic devices placed on the market reached 3.26 million tons—double the amount from 2013—while the legally required 65% collection quota for Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) remains unmet, with only 38.6% collected in 2021. These inefficiencies lead to significant losses of valuable secondary raw materials (source).

As the EU tightened regulations in the previous years such as with the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), PFAS restrictions, and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) laws, the Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) and the Electronics and Electrical Equipment sector face increasing pressure to adopt circular strategies.

Yet, Reuse, Repair, Refurbish, and Remanufacture (R-strategies) are far from standard business practice.

Berlin has a dynamic repair sector and stakeholders providing the city with an opportunity to strengthen and accelerate the repair economy. This workshop focuses on identifying actionable strategies and key interventions to accelerate the repair economy — from improving access to spare parts to creating new business models and infrastructure solutions.

Key Topics

• Promoting Design for Circularity – Enhancing repairability, longevity, and modularity through standardized components, sustainable materials, and better access to spare parts and repair information.
• Strengthening Repair – Boosting second-life electronics through refurbishment platforms, donation programs, quality certification for refurbished devices, and stronger awareness campaigns.

Workshop Objectives

• Identify technological, legal, and economic barriers to circular ICT electronics
• Discover innovation drivers in optics, photonics, and materials science AI, Digital Product Passports (DPP) and its potential for the repair sector.
• Explore opportunities at infrastructure levels to leverage the repair sector in Berlin.
• Develop actionable ideas and collaborations to support Germany’s circular economy goals at a city level.
• Build a Community of Practice to co-create projects that advance Berlin’s and Germany’s circular electronics transition.

Who should attend

• Repair businesses, and experts – Find innovative solutions, advocate for policy changes, and connect with new partners.
• Technology providers & innovators – Showcase solutions, collaborate with industry stakeholders, and explore new market opportunities.
• Brands & manufacturers – Learn about circular business models and compliance requirements.
• Policy & legal experts – Identify key regulatory gaps and discuss needed policy shifts.

We encourage Berlin-based companies to not miss a chance to join, as local funding opportunities such as the PROfit program and PRO NTI provide financial support for relevant initiatives to progress with adoption.

About the Project ‘Tech and Spaces for Circular Economy’

This Workshop is organised as part of the ‘Tech and Spaces for Circular Economy’ project, led by Creative Climate Cities, Circular Berlin, and WISTA Management GmbH, addresses the challenges of implementing circular strategies. The project explores how innovations in optics, photonics, and materials sciences and spatial concepts can enhance and scale circular practices across industries.

Funded by the Berlin Senate Department for Economic Affairs, Energy and Public Enterprises part of the Master Plan Industrial City Berlin 2022 - 2026 (MPI), this initiative aims to drive resource-efficient production and manufacturing.

For more information on project goals, partners, and timeline, please visit our project webpage.