Circular Economy Standardization
The circular
economy is now a generic concept and also a global need. Some countries are
amending their rules and regulations to switch from waste management practices
to circular economy practices. However, the circular economy practices need
operational tools to be implemented. People and organizations need knowledge
and information about the circular economy, hence the need for standardization is
felt in this field. The international organization ‘International Organization
for Standardization’ (ISO) also paid attention to this aspect and formed a
technical committee ISO TC 323 in September 2018. The aim of ISO/TC 323 on
circular economy is to develop frameworks, guidance-documents, supporting tools
and requirements for the implementation of activities of all involved
organizations to maximize the contribution to sustainable developments. The standards
developed by ISO will contribute to the UN SDGs. Many aspects of the circular
economy are covered by existing ISO committees, as such it has been clarified that
aspects of the circular economy already covered by existing committees are
excluded. It should be noted that ISO/TC 324 has also been formed on sharing
economy. The sharing economy is a concept that supports the circular economy. Already
several technical committees also cover aspects of the circular economy.
The technical
committee ISO/TC 323 has following objectives:
-
To develop standards that support and
encourage organizations to adopt the circular economy through a time-efficiency
process
-
To promote an alternative and collaborative
economic model that is more sustainable and facilitate the transition from the
linear economy to the circular economy
-
To promote a broad and effective
participation from countries all around the world
-
To maximize the contribution to
sustainable development
-
To develop high quality standards for
all types of stakeholders
The technical
committee ISO/TC 323 carries out following activities:
-
Promote improved and shared
understanding on the circular economy
-
Provide a framework to support
organizations integrate the circular economy principles and strategies in their
activities
-
Develop tools to access circularity
performance
-
Facilitate dialogue, communication and
collaboration amongst different actors at different levels (international /
regional / national)
-
Show concrete benefits and actions
that interest potential stakeholders and contributors
-
Provide guidelines for the creation of
an enabling environment for collaboration within and among sectors and value
chains
-
Making products accessible to more
consumers through circular-based business models
-
Facilitates exchanges and feedback on
experiences
-
Provide easy to use documents to
implement the circular economy and avoid proliferation of standards
The ISO technical
committee’s standardization deliverables target all types of organizations in private
sector and public sector that implement the circular economy principles and
strategies in their management, operations and business models. Presently
following standards related to the circular economy are under development stage:
-
ISO/AWI 59040, Circular economy –
Product Circularity Data Sheet
-
ISO/WD 59004, Circular economy –
Framework and principles for implementation
-
ISO/WD 59010.2, Circular economy –
Guidelines on business models and value chains
-
ISO/DTR 59032.2, Circular economy –
Review of business model implementation
-
ISO/WD 59020.2, Circular economy –
Measuring circularity framework
-
ISO/CD TR 59031, Circular economy –
Performance-based approach – Analysis of case studies
As on the date of
writing this note, all the above-mentioned standard documents are under
development stage, so we have to wait for some time for the published
standards. Hoping for the best to come.
- Keshav Ram
Singhal
References:
-
ISO/TC 323 Strategic Business Plan
-
ISO Website
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