Sphera Case Studies From Linear Manufacturer to Circular Supplier: Business Case for Circular Economy at Lorenz Meters

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	From Linear Manufacturer to Circular Supplier: Business Case for Circular Economy at Lorenz Meters Sphera

From Linear Manufacturer to Circular Supplier: Business Case for Circular Economy at Lorenz Meters

Sphera

Applicable Industries	Utilities
Applicable Functions	Product Research & Development Quality Assurance
Use Cases	Energy Management System Infrastructure Inspection
Services	System Integration Testing & Certification
Challenge	Lorenz Meters, a German company that produces over 1 million high-quality water meters annually, has developed an innovative circular economy business model to sustainably offer customized products for metering services, water utilities, and industrial applications. However, the company faced several challenges. They needed fact-based proof of the environmental performance of their circular business model and quantification of the environmental impact over the entire product life cycle. They also required data-driven insights into Life Cycle Costing (LCC) and identification of improvement potential for the further development of the circular business model. Read More
About Customer	Lorenz GmbH & Co. KG (Lorenz Meters) is a German, family-owned company that produces more than 1 million high-quality water meters annually. The company has over 50 years of experience in the industry and long-standing relationships with business partners. It has developed an innovative circular economy business model to sustainably offer customized products for metering services, water utilities, and industrial applications. Customers can purchase Lorenz water meters as new or as remanufactured products. The company has 200 employees worldwide and generates a revenue of €22 million. Read More
Solution	To address these challenges, Lorenz Meters partnered with Sphera to better understand and quantify the environmental and economic performance of recycled and remanufactured water meters. Sphera performed comparative life cycle assessments (LCA) of new and remanufactured water meters. Lorenz Meters products were evaluated on their environmental impact, raw material criticality, and economic efficiency. The analyses were carried out in accordance with DIN EN ISO 14040/44 and VDI 4600, VDI 4800 sheet 1 and sheet 2. Using the evaluation matrix developed by Sphera, the suitability of the water meter for remanufacturing was investigated. Factors taken into consideration included product design, reverse logistics, business model and other aspects. In addition, a practical guide - the 6-Step Plan - for introducing or supporting a Circular Economy business model was developed and applied. Read More Log in to view content
Contents

Applicable Industries

Utilities

Applicable Functions

Product Research & Development

Quality Assurance

Use Cases

Energy Management System

Infrastructure Inspection

Services

System Integration

Testing & Certification

Challenge

Lorenz Meters, a German company that produces over 1 million high-quality water meters annually, has developed an innovative circular economy business model to sustainably offer customized products for metering services, water utilities, and industrial applications. However, the company faced several challenges. They needed fact-based proof of the environmental performance of their circular business model and quantification of the environmental impact over the entire product life cycle. They also required data-driven insights into Life Cycle Costing (LCC) and identification of improvement potential for the further development of the circular business model.

About Customer

Lorenz GmbH & Co. KG (Lorenz Meters) is a German, family-owned company that produces more than 1 million high-quality water meters annually. The company has over 50 years of experience in the industry and long-standing relationships with business partners. It has developed an innovative circular economy business model to sustainably offer customized products for metering services, water utilities, and industrial applications. Customers can purchase Lorenz water meters as new or as remanufactured products. The company has 200 employees worldwide and generates a revenue of €22 million.

Solution

To address these challenges, Lorenz Meters partnered with Sphera to better understand and quantify the environmental and economic performance of recycled and remanufactured water meters. Sphera performed comparative life cycle assessments (LCA) of new and remanufactured water meters. Lorenz Meters products were evaluated on their environmental impact, raw material criticality, and economic efficiency. The analyses were carried out in accordance with DIN EN ISO 14040/44 and VDI 4600, VDI 4800 sheet 1 and sheet 2. Using the evaluation matrix developed by Sphera, the suitability of the water meter for remanufacturing was investigated. Factors taken into consideration included product design, reverse logistics, business model and other aspects. In addition, a practical guide - the 6-Step Plan - for introducing or supporting a Circular Economy business model was developed and applied.

Impact #1	Lorenz Meters can now demonstrate clear environmental and economic benefits of its business model based on the robust LCA and LCC results.
Impact #2	The quantitative information on environmental impacts over the entire lifecycle will help the company improve further and develop its circular product solutions.
Impact #3	Potential solutions to further develop circular business models were identified.

Impact #1

Lorenz Meters can now demonstrate clear environmental and economic benefits of its business model based on the robust LCA and LCC results.

Impact #2

The quantitative information on environmental impacts over the entire lifecycle will help the company improve further and develop its circular product solutions.

Impact #3

Potential solutions to further develop circular business models were identified.

Benefit #1	Over 90% lower carbon footprint of circular product solutions
Benefit #2	50% cost reduction, including staged payback to the user (return incentive)

Benefit #1

Over 90% lower carbon footprint of circular product solutions

Benefit #2

50% cost reduction, including staged payback to the user (return incentive)

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Overview

From Linear Manufacturer to Circular Supplier: Business Case for Circular Economy at Lorenz Meters

Operational Impact

Quantitative Benefit