An integrated qualitative-quantitative approach with a single indicator for early-stage recyclability evaluation in product design

The increasing generation of solid waste poses significant environmental, resource, and public health challenges. Design for Recycling (DfR) is a key strategy to enhance end-of-life product recycling during the design stage. Evaluating product recyclability is central to DfR and essential for its successful implementation. However, existing methods often suffer from limited accuracy or high complexity, hindering their practical application in design. To address these issues, this study proposes a novel hybrid approach that integrates qualitative and quantitative analysis, improving evaluation accuracy while simplifying the process through a single recyclability indicator. The method combines the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) with fuzzy comprehensive evaluation to estimate the probability of different recycling options. It further assesses recycling value based on economic viability, environmental impact, and disassembly difficulty, ultimately generating a comprehensive recyclability score to support design decisions. Case study results show that Design Alternative 2, with a recycling value of −3.26 Chinese yuan (CNY), is preferable to Design Alternative 1 (−16.58 CNY), demonstrating the practical feasibility of the proposed method. Furthermore, a controlled-variable comparative analysis highlights the method’s advantages in enhancing evaluation reliability and supporting design decisions.