Remanufacturing wheelchairs cuts emissions by up to 50%

The study was carried out by a student team at Linköping University. They analyzed the environmental impact of a new Etac Cross wheelchair against one remanufactured through re:vive. The evaluation covered the entire life cycle, from raw material extraction and production to the remanufacturing process. Even under worst-case transportation scenarios, such as shipping the wheelchair from the Netherlands to Etac’s remanufacturing facility in Sweden and back, the remanufactured version had a far smaller carbon footprint.

The research was based on real-world data from Etac’s first re:vive customer, Medux in the Netherlands.

"Medux, as a forward-thinking and innovative collaboration partner, has been very helpful to us in developing our remanufacturing concept re:vive," said Marika Törnqvist, Head of Product Management for Etac wheelchairs.

The most significant environmental savings stem from the reuse of aluminium, which constitutes approximately 60% of a wheelchair’s weight. Producing new aluminium is highly energy-intensive, whereas reused aluminium offers nearly the same strength without repeated emissions. Keeping wheelchairs in use for longer periods by remanufacturing entire frames greatly extends their lifecycle and reduces resource consumption.

"The early life-cycle assessment confirmed that we’re on the right track in increasing our marketing efforts for re:vive. We know our products are built to last and that we can extend their lifespan through remanufacturing," said Törnqvist.

From the customer’s perspective, the program offers not only cost efficiency but also a way to meet sustainability goals.

"At Medux, we see this as a strong example of analyzing the product footprint and taking action," said Femke Visser, Sustainable Procurement at Medux. "We are pleased to work closely with Etac towards a sustainable future and hope others are inspired to join us."

REHACARE.com; Source: Etac AB