System architecting for environmental sustainability and circularity - initial steps

This technical report describes the learnings and the state of the Canvas project at the end of 2023, a collaboration between Canon Production Printing (CPP) and TNO-ESI. The topic addressed in this project is systems architecting for environmental sustainability (carbon footprint in particular) and circularity (ES&C in short). The motivation for the project is that the topic of ES&C grows in importance for businesses. For companies selling high-tech machinery and equipment that stays in the field for years, even decades, it is crucial to architect and engineer the products that will not need a complete redesign, retrofitting, or even withdrawing from the market because ES & C needs to be addressed earlier. Methods to support architecting high-tech systems with ES&C are among the top qualities needed to achieve this goal. In 2023, the first year of this project, we explored what specific aspects a system architect should consider when architecting ES&C in the high-tech equipment industry in two cases. As a result, we outline characteristics of systems architecting for high-tech equipment and the first ingredients of the methodology on which we will continue to work in 2024. In short, systems architecting for ES&C is performed in parallel with business transformation; it requires broadening the view on innovation to the whole ecosystem of companies. Sustainability (ES&C) is (like safety and security) a system quality that focuses on potential losses and should be addressed during systems architecting and design to mitigate the long-term negative impact a system might have on the environment, society and economy. At the same time, it is becoming a competitive advantage as the customers ask for more sustainable systems. Architecting for ES&C is performed on the product, organisational (enterprise) and ecosystem levels. The methodology consists of processes, methods and tools, such as guidelines (processes) based on the existing SE and LCA standards and methods for identifying and evaluating design alternatives. Acknowledgments: This research is carried out as part of the Canvas project under the responsibility of TNO-ESI with Canon CPP as the carrying industrial partner. The research activities are supported by the Netherlands Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate, and TKI-HTSM.