Blockchain Technology for Circular Economy: Review of Strategies with Focus on Product End-of-Life

The circular economy (CE) is an essential concept towards achieving sustainable development, with digital technologies being one of the key driving factors. In particular, the end-of-life (EoL) stage of a product requires careful consideration since how a product is handled when it reaches its EoL significantly impacts the overall sustainability performance. Digital technologies, such as blockchain, have demonstrated significant potential in addressing critical EoL challenges, including providing proof of origin for proper handling and ensuring traceability of product performance. This paper explores blockchain-based EoL strategies, including remanufacturing, refurbishing, and demanufacturing, to improve these processes and contribute to a more sustainable CE. Key findings highlight blockchain’s potential application in various EoL strategies. Additional strategies, such as refuse, repurpose, and rethink, are also discussed. Finally, possible avenues for future research are summarised.