In times when the climate crisis is forcing us to rethink and many users are demanding sustainable and durable technology, manufacturers and with them the entire value chain are facing major challenges.

In times when the climate crisis is forcing us to rethink and many users are demanding sustainable and durable technology, manufacturers and with them the entire value chain are facing major challenges.

What does sustainability mean in the fast-moving, constantly overtaking technology sector? Which screws can be turned to make products robust and resistant, but at the same time flexible enough not to lose touch with technical innovations?

Using the smartphone as an example, this question is the focus of the INaS 2.0 workshop series. The Innovation Association for Sustainable Smartphones (INaS) is part of the CSM (Center for Sustainability Management) at Leuphana University Lüneburg and has set itself the goal of developing sustainable business models based on modular product design for smartphones. To this end, actors from all areas of the value chain are invited to network, exchange ideas and jointly find and promote possible solutions.

2015-2018 have 20 participants and partner institutes took part in INaS 1.0. The number has since grown to 28 and we are proud to have been part of the INaS 2.0 network since the beginning of 2020. In January 2020, the first workshop dealt with the technical basics of modular product design and the associated opportunities and challenges for companies. At the second workshop in October 2020, this time via video conference due to corona, the focus was on the development of customer-centric services. Both aspects have to go hand in hand in order to guarantee and consolidate the sustainable success of a modular product design. Every stage of the value chain is required, from the supplier of the individual parts to the provider, right through to recovery and recycling. Through the exchange with the other actors, it quickly became clear how interdependent the individual stages are and how closely interlinked one has to approach such a project in order to achieve a meaningful and practicable result.

Above all, the collaboration within the framework of the workshop, detached from everyday work, was very creative and profitable. In the conversation, all sides were able to benefit from the knowledge and input of the other participants. From this group creative and innovative ideas were developed. Not all of them are suitable for implementation, while others are worth more intensive consideration and further development.

With the aim of a circular economy in mind, modular product designs must be promoted at the first level. These provide the basis for technological update options, simplified repairs and recycling. Here, too, it helps to take into account experience from previous product series for the design process. At the same time, providers must offer customers the appropriate services. Customer loyalty, attractive and simple service offers, but possibly also completely new business models.