Disassemblability Assessment of Car Parts: Lessons Learned from an Ecodesign Perspective

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Overall, the article presents a comprehensive analysis of the disassemblability of car parts from an ecodesign perspective, aiming to enhance sustainability and promote circular economy principles. Here are some comments and suggestions for each paragraph:

1. **Abstract**: The abstract succinctly summarizes the main objectives and findings of the study. It effectively communicates the importance of enhancing disassemblability for sustainable recycling practices. However, it could be strengthened by briefly mentioning the specific methodologies used in the assessment.

2. **Introduction**: The introduction provides a solid overview of the increasing demand for vehicles and the consequent need for raw materials, especially critical metals. It effectively sets the context for the study and highlights the importance of improving disassemblability to address recycling challenges. One suggestion would be to include a clearer statement of the research gap or problem addressed by the study.

3. **Literature Review**: The literature review section provides a thorough overview of previous research on disassemblability, covering various methodologies and applications across different products. It effectively demonstrates the relevance of the current study within the broader research context. However, it could benefit from organizing the different studies into subsections based on their thematic focus (e.g., disassembly methods, modularity assessment, tools for improvement).

The Materials and Methods section provides a detailed explanation of the terminology and methodology used in the study on disassemblability. Here are some comments and suggestions for improvement:

1. **Clarity and Conciseness**: The section is quite detailed, which is good for understanding the methodology. However, some sentences are long and complex, making them difficult to follow. Consider breaking them down into shorter, clearer sentences for better readability.

2. **Terminology Definition**: The definitions of terms like "Part," "Subpart," "Disassembly," and "Subdisassembly" are essential for understanding the study. Ensure that these definitions are clear and concise so that readers can grasp the concepts easily.

3. **Figures and Examples**: The inclusion of Figure 1 to illustrate disassemblability levels is helpful. However, ensure that the figure is properly referenced and explained in the text for better comprehension.

4. **Data Presentation**: Tables 1 and 2 provide detailed information on disassembly and subdisassembly processes, which is crucial for understanding the study. Ensure that the tables are well-organized and properly labeled for clarity.

5. **Methodological Details**: The section provides a thorough explanation of the methods used for assessing disassemblability, including the selection of representative cars, thermodynamics as a tool for identifying critical car parts, and the disassemblability assessment process. Ensure that all methodological steps are clearly explained and justified.

6. **References**: The section references previous studies (e.g., Ortego et al [41], Iglesias-Embil et al [20]) to support the methodology used in the study. Ensure that all references are properly cited and relevant to the topic.

Overall, the Materials and Methods section provides a comprehensive overview of the study's methodology. By addressing the points mentioned above, you can improve the clarity, coherence, and readability of the section, making it easier for readers to understand the research methodology.

### Table 5 and Table 6:

- The tables present clear and organized data on the disassemblability assessment, showing the average time required for disassembly and the tools needed.

- It might be beneficial to include a brief explanation of the abbreviations used (e.g., NP, NA) for better clarity, especially for readers who are not familiar with the terminology.

- It would be helpful to include a brief explanation of why speed sensors are challenging to disassemble, providing insight into any design or technical complexities.

Overall, the article provides valuable insights into the disassemblability of critical car parts and offers practical recommendations for ecodesign improvements. Clarity, organization, and visual aids enhance the readability and understanding of the content.

Minor editing of English language required

Author Response

Dear reviewer, thank you very much for your suggestions. In the attached file there are the responses to your report. Kind regards.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

The submitted manuscript includes comparative study of disassemblability of cars from different generations. The manuscript is well written and contains new and interesting results. However, the article should be improved before publication in the journal in accordance with the following comments:

1. The authors write about ecodesign recommendations based on their experiments, but the recommendations are not intended either in the discussion or in the conclusions. Authors should white their ecodesign recommendations in the text.

2. The discussion part is very weak. The authors should compare their approach with the approaches of other authors and determine the novelty of the current results.

Author Response

Dear reviewer, thank you very much for your suggestions. We have submitted a new version of the paper.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 3 Report

The paper may be accepted for publication, but with minimal changes in the following:

      (i)            It is necessary to expand the introductory part and analyze additional scientific works in this area. Be aware of the professional terminology used in this field.

    (ii)            Before the first use of abbreviations, explain their sentence, for example, end of service life, ELV, etc.

   (iii)            As an example, the process of disassembling a SEAT vehicle is mentioned. Explain what type of vehicle it is. Is it an electric vehicle, as it mentions batteries and lithium?

  (iv)            From that aspect, it is necessary to mention the process of recycling and dismantling rare magnets used in electric vehicles, such as neodymium. In the introduction, explain the legal framework or legislative framework in this domain (for example, Directive 2000/53 /EC).

    (v)            As an example and help, it is necessary to study the following scientific work and expand the list of references accordingly:

  (vi)            DOI: 10.24874/mvm.2020.46.02.03 or

DOI 10.1088/1757-899X/659/1/012051

 (vii)            Check the complete material, especially the terminology, abbreviations  and units. Check also the terminology on the tables. Use the above-suggested scientific papers as help. Check the picture quality once more.

(viii)            Consider whether it makes sense to include disassembly and separation of aluminum parts, such as reciprocating compressors. Have you thought about reducing greenhouse gas emissions during the dismantling and recycling process that follows?  As a help, you can include inside the literature list the next scientific paper:

https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos15020184

  (ix)            Expand the discussion of the achieved research results in accordance with the set research goals. Clearly state the contribution of the research.

    (x)            Avoid multiphase citations. After the changes, technically check the complete text.

Author Response

Dear reviewer, thank you very much for your suggestions. In the attached file there are the responses to your report. Kind regards.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 4 Report

Dear authors,

This manuscript is nicely written and might be interesting for the readership of Journal Sustainability. However, it can be accepted for publication after minor revision. Here are my comments.

Comment 1: English language corrections are required.

The main question addressed by the research is the analysis of the challenges related to the disassembly of components of significant value due to their metal content.

For this area of research, the topic is relevant and original. This article fills a specific gap that exists due to the lack of such research methods.

Compared to other published material, in this article, we will be introduced not only to information about the possibilities of disassembling collected car parts but also to several eco-design recommendations that have been identified as valuable guidelines for future designs, especially aimed at improving metal recycling.

The authors should consider an economic analysis that would compare the costs of recycling and dismantling with the value of the recovered metals, but I think that is for another article and maybe another journal.

All references listed are appropriate.

The tables and figures presented in this article fully accompany the text. They are extremely transparent and clear and point to the issues discussed in this article.

English language corrections are required.

Author Response

Dear reviewer. Thank you very much for your suggestions. In the attached document there are included all responses. Kind regards.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

Agree to accept the manuscript.

Minor editing of English language required

Reviewer 2 Report

The article can be accepted for publication in the present form.