Faculty of Economics and Business Administration

Chair of Management Accounting and Control

Prof. Dr. Uwe Götze

Interdisciplinary Research Project winter term 2021/22

Analysis of recycling processes in the automobile industry

from an economic perspective

The main goal of the Interdisciplinary Research Project is to develop a concept for analysing recy-
cling processes in the automobile industry from an economic (and environmental) perspective. As
a base, a literature review has to be conducted. Contributions of recycling processes in the auto-
mobile industry to circular economies have be elaborated. Potentials and constraints of the devel-
oped concept have to be discussed and suggestions for further developments should be made.

Fulfil the following tasks and document your approach and the results in a project report (~15
pages). Please, follow the guidelines for scientific writing.

(1) Shortly (!) explain the terms “Recycling” (and related terms like “reuse”), “Automobile in-
dustry”, and “Economic Perspective”/”Circular Economies” (essential definitions and char-
acterization).
(2) Give an overview of types of recycling processes in the automobile industry as well as
available studies regarding their analysis from an economic (and environmental) perspec-
tive. As a base, conduct a literature review. Categorize identified recycling processes re-
garding selected criteria (e.g. recycling of materials / components; downcycling / upcycling)
(3) Develop and present a concept of for analysing recycling processes in the automobile in-
dustry from an economic (and environmental) perspective. Characterize elements of the
concept (e.g., selected target figures, methods and instruments). Use practical examples.
(4) Elaborate the contribution of recycling processes in the automobile industry for creating
circular economies.
(5) Discuss potentials and constraints of the concept and make suggestions for further devel-
opments.

References (Selection):
Alsaadi, N. A.; Franchetti, M. J. (2016): An integrated approach to vehicle recycling facilities, in:
International Journal of Environmental Science and Development, Vol. 7, Nr. 11, S. 856-860.
Buruzs, A.; Torma, A. (2017): A Review on the Outlook of the Circular Economy in the Automo-
tive Industry, in: International Journal of Environmental and Ecological Engineering, Vol. 11, Nr.
6, pp. 576-580.
Elwert, T. et al. (2016): Current Developments and Challenges in the Recycling of Key Compo-
nents of (Hybrid) Electric Vehicles, in: Recycling, Vol. 1, Nr. 1, pp. 25-60.
Korhonen, J.; Honkasalo, A.; Seppäla, J. (2018): Circular Economy: The Concept and its Limita-
tions, in: Ecological Economics, Vol. 143, Jan. 2018, S. 37-46.
BMW: https://www.bmw.com/en/magazine/sustainability/circular-lab/vision-circular.html

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Notes:

- Submission date: 14th of January 2022 (until 3pm German time). Please, submit to
anja.schmidt@wiwi.tu-chemnitz.de and josephin.haenel@wiwi.tu-chemnitz.de)
- ~ 15 pages (individual work) (appendix possible)
- An early consultation of the adviser is recommended. In the first consultation hour, a table
of contents of the project work as well as a list of references (as a result of a first literature
research) have to be presented to the adviser. It is expected that the student develop a
useful table of content/outline to write one cohesive text.
- Please follow the guidelines for scientific writing provided by the chair.

Other:

Note the different possibilities for finding literature, e.g.:

- OPAC (Online catalogue of TU Chemnitz library)

- Databases of the library:
http://dbis.uni-regensburg.de/dbinfo/fachliste.php?bib_id=tuche&lett=l&colors=&ocolors=
- Catalogue of Saxon libraries:
http://webopac.slub-dresden.de/libero/WebOpac.cls

Advisers:
Dr. Anja Schmidt (anja.schmidt@wiwi.tu-chemnitz.de)
Josephin Hänel, M.Sc. (josephin.haenel@wiwi.tu-chemnitz.de)
Chair of Management Accounting and Control, Chemnitz University of Technology

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