From Waste to Resource: A Patent Classification Analysis for End of Life Mosquito Nets Alternative Uses Identification

The effects of current worldwide problems like climate change and environmental pollution must be taken into account while designing or redesigning goods or services. During this process, it is necessary to apply current techniques like the 3Rs recovery method and the circular economy concept to reduce waste and improve recycling, regeneration, and reusability. In this context, the article discusses a research carried out for a manufacturing company to address the potential for reusing end-of-life mosquito nets, which are hard to recycle, in order to lessen their environmental impact and open up new commercial options. To attain this, the best strategy for identifying new product applications has been chosen after being analyzed alongside other options found in the literature. The approach starts with identifying the functionalities of the product, from which the Cooperative Patent Classifications (CPCs) of the resulting patents are then retrieved and used as outward stimuli during the design process. The outcomes, in terms of generated ideas, are then reported in the conclusions, indicating the true efficacy of adopted strategy.