Remanufacturing can be easily confused with other circular economy related terms, such as recycling but it is very different:
- Remanufacturing returns a used product to at least as new performance specification and gives the resultant product a warranty that is at least equal to that of a newly manufactured equivalent.
- Reconditioning returns a product to a satisfactory working condition that may be inferior to the original specification and a gives a warranty less than the newly manufactured product.
- Repair corrects specified faults in a product and gives a warranty less than the newly manufactured product that may not cover the entire product.
- Recycling recovers materials for the original purpose or a new purpose.