1 Scope

2 Normative references

3 Terms and definitions

3.1 Terms related to a circular economy

3.2 Terms related to solutions

3.3 Terms related to resources

3.4 Terms related to organizations and other interested parties

3.5 Terms related to value creation models and design and development

3.6 Terms related to measurement and assessment

4 Circular economy vision

5 Circular economy principles

5.1 General

5.2 Principles

5.3 Considerations of adopting the principles

6 Actions that contribute to a circular economy

6.1 General

6.2 Actions that create added value

6.3 Actions that contribute to value retention

6.4 Actions that contribute to value recovery

6.5 Actions to regenerate ecosystems

6.6 Actions to support a circular economy transition

6.7 Guidance for resource management actions

7 Implementation guidance

7.1 Overview

7.2 Context and reference situation assessment

7.3 Circular economy purpose, mission, vision and goals definition

7.4 Circular economy strategic priorities and action plan development

7.5 Circular economy implementation

7.6 Circular economy monitoring, reviewing and reporting

Annex A List of drivers

A.1 Overview

A.2 Drivers

Annex B Non-exhaustive list of examples of actions

B.1 Overview

B.2 Examples of actions that create added value

B.3 Examples of actions that contribute to value retention

B.4 Examples of actions that contribute to value recovery

B.5 Examples of actions to support a circular economy transition

B.6 Illustrated tabulated example of possible interlinkages between actions

Annex C Considering a sustainable development perspective in actions

C.1 General

C.2 Actions that create added value (see 6.2)

3.1.20

technical cycle

cycle(s) within the social system (3.1.3) through which resources  (3.1.5) are used, recovered, restored and utilized within existing or new solutions  (3.2.1)

Note 1 to entry: Resources flow into and within a technical cycle, which involves activities such as sharing, maintenance, reuse  (3.5.17), repair  (3.5.16), remanufacturing (3.5.21) and recycling  (3.5.24).

3.1.21

biological cycle

cycle(s) through which biological nutrients are utilized by living organisms and subsequently restored into or within the biosphere  (3.1.19) in a way that rebuilds ecosystem (3.1.17)resilience (3.1.12) and natural capital and enables the regrowth of renewable resources (3.3.10)

Note 1 to entry: Such cycles can involve, at various stages, cascading  (3.3.15), composting  (3.3.18), anaerobic digestion (3.3.17) or the extraction of bio-chemicals.

Note 2 to entry: Natural capital refers to the renewable and non-renewable (3.3.7)natural resources (3.3.1) (e.g. plants, animals, air, water, soils, minerals) that combine to yield a flow of benefits to people, including various ecosystem services such as producing oxygen, capturing carbon dioxide, purifying water, nutrient cycling, etc.

3.1.22

system

set of interrelated or interacting elements

[SOURCE:ISO 9000:2015, 3.5.1]

3.1.23

system in focus

system (3.1.22) that is defined by selected system boundaries and is the subject of a circularity measurement (3.6.4) and a circularity assessment (3.6.5)

Note 1 to entry: Four system levels are being used for measuring and assessing circularity performance (3.6.3): regional, interorganizational, organizational and product level.

3.2   Terms related to solutions

3.2.1

solution

product  (3.2.2) or service  (3.2.3), or a combination thereof, that fulfils a need of an interested party (3.4.2)

3.2.2

product

physical-based object designed for or utilized with a purpose

Note 1 to entry: A product can be, for example:

• — goods of any type;

• — hardware (e.g. engine mechanical part, spare parts, consumables);

• — electrical or electronic hardware devices or components (e.g. computers, communication equipment and sensors);

• — processed materials (e.g. lubricant, cement).

3.2.3

service

activity designed or executed with a purpose

Note 1 to entry: Services have intangible elements. Provision of a service can involve, for example:

• — an activity performed on a tangible product  (3.2.2) supplied to a customer  (3.4.3) (e.g. automobile to be repaired; the income statement needed to prepare a tax return);

• — the creation of ambience for the customer (e.g. in hotels and restaurants).

Note 2 to entry: Knowledge transfer and financial management as well as digital software tools or programs and databases are considered as services.

3.2.4

life cycle

consecutive and interlinked stages in the life of a solution  (3.2.1)

Note 1 to entry: The interlinked stages can include acquisition of natural resources (3.3.1), design, production, transportation or delivery, use, reuse (3.5.17), remanufacturing (3.5.21) and recycling (3.5.24).

Note 2 to entry: Within a circular economy (3.1.1), traditional linear life cycle understanding is transformed by the thinking that a life cycle can consist of several end of use (3.5.29) (e.g. multiple use cycles) and eventually ends at the end of life (3.5.30, 3.5.31).

3.2.5

life cycle perspective

life cycle thinking

consideration of the circularity aspects  (3.6.1) relevant to a solution  (3.2.1) during its life cycle  (3.2.4) which includes consideration of the relevant environmental, social and economic impacts

Note 1 to entry: The main idea in applying a life cycle perspective is to improve the circularity performance (3.6.3) of a solution by considering its use of resources (3.1.5) and related emissions in relation to relevant environmental, social and economic impacts. This can facilitate links between the economic, social and environmental dimensions within an organization (3.4.1) and through its entire value chain (3.5.2).

Note 2 to entry: In measuring and assessing the circularity performance of a system (3.1.22), a life cycle perspective should be applied.

Note 3 to entry: This perspective should include all stages of technical (3.1.20) or biological cycles (3.1.21) over appropriate timescales that are related to that system.

3.3   Terms related to resources

3.3.1

natural resource

resource (3.1.5) occurring in nature

Note 1 to entry: Natural resources usually have not been subjected to any human-related processing or modification.

Note 2 to entry: Natural resources are acquired or extracted from the environment (3.1.16) or nature (the geosphere or biosphere  (3.1.19)) into the technosphere (3.1.18) and emissions to air, water or land are released from the technosphere into the environment.

3.3.2

virgin resource

primary resource

natural resource  (3.3.1) or energy that is used as a resource  (3.1.5) for the first time as input in a process  (3.5.5) or for creating a solution  (3.2.1)

Note 1 to entry: Virgin resources can be either a renewable resource  (3.3.10) or non-renewable resource  (3.3.11).

Note 2 to entry: Using virgin resources to produce a material does not result in that material being considered a virgin resource when first used. However, in this case, other terminology is used depending on the context, i.e. “virgin material” or “primary material”.

3.3.3

recoverable resource

resource  (3.1.5) that can be recovered and used again after it has already been processed or used

Note 1 to entry: Recovery can be undertaken to recover (3.1.8), retain (3.1.9) or add value (3.1.10).

Note 2 to entry: A recoverable resource can provide no value (3.1.7) and be considered waste (3.3.6).

3.3.4

non-recoverable resource

resource  (3.1.5) that cannot be recovered and used again after it has been processed or used

Note 1 to entry: Resources can be non-recoverable at time due to technological, economical, environmental, social or regulatory infeasibility.

3.3.5

recovered resource

secondary resource

resource  (3.1.5) that is obtained from one that has already been processed or used

Note 1 to entry: Recovery can be undertaken to recover (3.1.8), retain (3.1.9) or add value (3.1.10).

Note 2 to entry: A recovered resource can provide no value (3.1.7) to the holder (3.4.5) and be considered waste  (3.3.6).

Note 3 to entry: Other terminology used, depending on the context, includes “secondary material.”

3.3.6

waste

resource  (3.1.5) that is no longer considered to be an asset as it, at the time, provides insufficient value  (3.1.7) to the holder (3.4.5)

Note 1 to entry: The holder can choose to retain, discard or transfer the waste.

Note 2 to entry: Value can be assigned to waste as a result of a need from another interested party (3.4.2), at which point the resource is no longer considered waste.

Note 3 to entry: The assignment of value to waste as a resource is linked, in part, to the available technology (e.g. landfill mining).

Note 4 to entry: Some regulations require the holder to dispose of certain types of waste, while others assign value to waste.

Note 5 to entry: Because resources include the energy content or energy potential of materials, such energy, when liberated during a process (3.5.5) and not recovered for another use, can be considered a waste.

3.3.7

losses

unmanaged outflows of a resource (3.1.5) from the system in focus (3.1.23) that are not recovered

Note 1 to entry: For the purpose of measuring circularity performance (3.6.3), losses can be estimated.

Note 2 to entry: Losses can happen at any stage of the life cycle (3.2.4), such as wear and tear in the use stage (e.g. tire abrasion, microplastic).

3.3.8

releases

managed emissions to air and discharges to water or land from the system in focus (3.1.23)

Note 1 to entry: Releases can be solid, liquid or gaseous.

Note 2 to entry: For the purpose of measuring circularity performance (3.6.3), releases are quantifiable but are not recovered at the time of emission or discharge.

Note 3 to entry: Releases can happen at any stage of the life cycle (3.2.4) (e.g. car emissions).

3.3.9

renewable energy

energy from a renewable resource (3.3.10)

3.3.10

renewable resource

resource  (3.1.5) that can be naturally or artificially grown or replenished within a foreseeable time frame by processes found in nature

Note 1 to entry: Some renewable resources are inexhaustible (e.g. the sun) while others are capable of being exhausted but can be regrown or replenished indefinitely with proper stewardship in line with sustainable development (3.3.11).

3.3.11

non-renewable resource

resource  (3.1.5) that exists in a finite or limited amount that cannot be naturally replenished within a foreseeable time frame

Note 1 to entry: Resources that are derived from activities that occur only in the technosphere  (3.1.18) such as recycling  (3.5.24) are not considered renewable resources (3.3.10).

[SOURCE:ISO 21930:2017, 3.6.3, modified — “finite or limited” replaced “fixed” and “within a foreseeable time frame” replaced “or cleansed on a human time scale” in the definition. “Resources that are derived from” added and “renewable resources” replaced “natural replenishment or cleansing” in Note 1 to entry. Notes 2 and 3 to entry deleted.]

3.3.12

biobased

bio-based

derived from biomass (3.3.14)

[SOURCE:ISO 16559:2022, 3.23, modified — “biobased” added as the preferred term.]

3.3.13

biobased resource

resource  (3.1.5) derived from biomass  (3.3.14)

Note 1 to entry: Biobased resources exclude any material embedded in geological formations or transformed to fossilized material.

Note 2 to entry: Biobased resources include, for example, trees, crops, grasses, tree litter, algae, microorganisms, animals and wastes  (3.3.6) of biological origin, e.g. manure.

Note 3 to entry: Biobased resource focuses on the source of the material and not on the ability of the resource to cycle through the technical (3.1.20) or biological cycles (3.1.21).

3.3.14

biomass

material of biological origin, excluding material embedded in geological formations or transformed to fossilized material

Note 1 to entry: This includes organic material (both living and dead) from above and below ground, e.g. trees, crops, grasses, tree litter, algae, animals, and waste  (3.3.6) of biological origin, e.g. manure.

[SOURCE:ISO 14021:2016, 3.1.1, modified — “and excluding peat” deleted in the definition.]

3.3.15

cascading

repeated use of a resource  (3.1.5) usually starting at a level of high value (3.1.7) with decreasing quantity and quality at each subsequent stage or cycle, depending on the processes (3.5.5) used

3.3.16

energy recovery

generation of useful energy through direct and controlled transformation of recovered resources  (3.3.5)

Note 1 to entry: Forms of useful energy include usable heat and electricity.

Note 2 to entry: Energy recovery is often the final option for use of recovered resources.

Note 3 to entry: In the context of the circular economy (3.1.1), the generation of energy from virgin resources (3.3.2) is not a form of “energy recovery”.

3.3.17

anaerobic digestion

controlled biological process where microorganisms break down organic material without oxygen, producing biogas, carbon dioxide and, normally, nutrient-rich digestate

3.3.18

composting

aerobic biological process usually carried out under controlled conditions, which converts organic material into a normally nutrient-rich, humus-like, material

3.4   Terms related to organizations and other interested parties

3.4.1

organization

person or group of people that has its own functions with responsibilities, authorities, and relationships to achieve its objectives

Note 1 to entry: The concept of organization includes, but is not limited to sole-trader, company, corporation, firm, enterprise, authority, partnership, charity or institution, or part or combination thereof, whether incorporated or not, public or private (e.g. foundation, union, association, agency, municipality, region, country, intergovernmental agencies).

Note 2 to entry: A group of organizations can also be considered as an organization that has, alone or collectively, their own objectives.

[SOURCE:ISO 14001:2015, 3.1.4, modified — Examples in Note 1 to entry added. Note 2 to entry added.]

3.4.2

interested party

stakeholder

person or organization (3.4.1) that can affect, be affected by, or perceive itself to be affected by a decision or activity

Note 1 to entry: To “perceive itself to be affected” means the perception has been made known to the organization.

[SOURCE:ISO 14001:2015, 3.1.6, modified — Admitted term “stakeholder” added. Example deleted.]

3.4.3

customer

organization (3.4.1) or individual member of the general public purchasing a solution (3.2.1) for commercial, private or public purposes

[SOURCE:ISO 26000:2010, 2.3, modified — “a solution” replaced “property, products or services”.]

3.4.4

user

organization (3.4.1) or individual member of the general public using a solution (3.2.1) for commercial, private or public purposes

[SOURCE:ISO 26000:2010, 2.3, modified — “user” replaced "customer" as the preferred term. “using a solution” replaced “purchasing property, products or services”.]

3.4.5

holder

organization (3.4.1), customer (3.4.3) or some other type of individual that possesses, carries or legally owns the object of consideration

3.5   Terms related to value creation models and design and development

3.5.1

value creation model

business model

organization’s  (3.4.1) chosen system  (3.1.22) of interconnected and interdependent decisions and activities that determines how it creates, delivers and captures value  (3.1.7)

Note 1 to entry: A value creation model involves external processes  (3.5.5) (e.g. transportation, take back) beyond those of the organization’s processes (e.g. education, financing) and the solutions  (3.2.1) it provides.

Note 2 to entry: The value creation model can have a focus on the short, medium or long term, or some combination thereof.

[SOURCE:BSI 8001:2017, 2.8, modified — Admitted term “business model” added. “‘short, medium and long term” deleted in the definition. Note 1 to entry replaced by Notes 1 and 2 to entry.]

3.5.2

value chain

set of organizations  (3.4.1) that provide a solution  (3.2.1) that results in value  (3.1.7) for them

3.5.3

value network

network of interlinked value chains  (3.5.2) and interested parties  (3.4.2)

3.5.4

sphere of influence

range or extent of political, contractual, economic or other relationships through which an organization  (3.4.1) has the ability to affect the decisions or activities of other individuals or organizations

Note 1 to entry: The ability to influence does not, in itself, imply a responsibility to exercise influence.

[SOURCE:ISO 14006:2020, 3.1.8, modified — “other” added in the definition. Note 2 to entry deleted.]

3.5.5

process

set of interrelated or interacting activities that transforms inputs into outputs

[SOURCE:ISO 14044: 2006, 3.11]

3.5.6

framework

structure of processes  (3.5.5) and specifications designed to support the accomplishment of a specific task

3.5.7

requirement

need or expectation that is stated, generally implied or mandatory

Note 1 to entry: “Generally implied” means that it is custom or common practice for the organization  (3.4.1) and interested parties  (3.4.2) that the need or expectation under consideration is implied.

Note 2 to entry: A specified requirement is one that is stated, for example in documented information.

[SOURCE:ISO 14001:2015, 3.2.8, modified — “mandatory” replaced “obligatory”. Note 3 to entry deleted.]

3.5.8

trade-off

decision-making actions that balance opposing requirements  (3.5.7) and alternative solutions  (3.2.1) on the basis of net benefit to organizations  (3.4.1), interested parties  (3.4.2), ecosystems (3.1.17) or society

[SOURCE:ISO 14006:2020, 3.4.11, modified — “balance opposing” replaced “select from various”, and “organizations”, “ecosystems” and “society” have been added.]

3.5.9

design and development

process  (3.5.5) that transforms requirements  (3.5.7) into a solution  (3.2.1)

Note 1 to entry: Design and development usually follows a series of steps, i.e. starting with an initial idea, transforming the idea into a formal specification, through to the creation of a solution, its potential redesign and consideration of end of life (3.5.30, 3.5.31).

Note 2 to entry: Design and development can include taking a solution idea from planning to provision and review of the solution. It can include considerations on business strategies, marketing, research methods and design aspects that are used. It includes improvements or modifications of existing solutions.

[SOURCE:ISO 14006:2020, 3.2.1, modified — “solution” replaced all occurrences of “product” in the definition and in Notes to entry.]

3.5.10

linear economy

economic system (3.1.2) where resources  (3.1.5) typically follow the pattern of extraction, production, use and disposal

3.5.11

ecodesign

environmentally conscious design

ECD

design for environment

DfE

green design

environmentally sustainable design

design and development  (3.5.9) based on a life cycle perspective  (3.2.5) aimed at supporting sustainable development  (3.1.11)

3.5.12

design for circularity

DfC

design and development (3.5.9) based on the circular economy (3.1.1)principles (3.1.13)

Note 1 to entry: This field of design builds on and is related to ecodesign (3.5.11).

3.5.13

procurement

process (3.5.5) relating to the provision or sourcing of a resource (3.1.5) or solution (3.2.1)

Note 1 to entry: Sourcing is a part of the procurement process and includes planning, defining specifications and selecting suppliers.

3.5.14

reverse logistics

process  (3.5.5) of managing, collecting and moving products  (3.2.2) from their current location after the end of use (3.5.29) for the purpose of recovering (3.1.8) or retaining value  (3.1.9) through proper handling

Note 1 to entry: Only activities needed for the proper handling are included, e.g. logistics needed to bring a used product to a new customer (3.4.3) are not included.

Note 2 to entry: The proper handling can include remanufacturing (3.5.21), repair  (3.5.16) or recycling  (3.5.24) or other treatment.

3.5.15

closed loop system

system (3.1.22) by which products  (3.2.2) or resources  (3.1.5) are used and then recovered and turned into new products or recovered resources  (3.3.5), without losing their inherent properties

3.5.16

repair,verb

restore a product  (3.2.2) to a condition needed for the product to function according to its intended purpose

Note 1 to entry: Actions can include renewal or replacement of worn, damaged or degraded parts of the product.

3.5.17

reuse,verb

use a product  (3.2.2) or its component parts after their initial use, for the same purpose for which they were originally designed

Note 1 to entry: Utilization intended by the original design can involve either single-use or multiple-uses by the initial user (3.4.4) or customer (3.4.3) over time.

Note 2 to entry: Minor treatment (e.g. cleaning) of the product can be needed by the user to allow for reuse.

Note 3 to entry: In some cases, resources (3.1.5), such as water, are considered as a product, in which case, the purpose of “original design” is not applicable.

3.5.18

refurbish,verb

recondition

restore an item, during its expected service life, to a useful condition for the same purpose with at least similar quality and performance characteristics

3.5.19

refurbishing,noun

refurbishment

reconditioning

process (3.5.5) by which an item, during its expected service life, is restored to a useful condition for the same purpose and with at least similar quality and performance characteristics

Note 1 to entry: Refurbishing does not include restoration after the expected service life.

Note 2 to entry: Refurbishing can include activities such as repair (3.5.16), rework, replacement of worn parts and update of software or hardware but does not include activities that result in significant changes of product (3.2.2) performances.

3.5.20

remanufacture,verb

return an item to a like-new condition from both a quality and performance perspective using an industrial process  (3.5.5)

Note 1 to entry: From the performance perspective, the functionality of the item is an important consideration as it relates to the fulfilment of a particular need.

3.5.21

remanufacturing,noun

industrial process  (3.5.5) by which an item is returned to a like-new condition from both a quality and performance perspective

Note 1 to entry: The item can be previously sold, leased, used, worn, remanufactured (3.5.20) or a non-functional product (3.2.2) or part.

Note 2 to entry: A like-new condition can also be described as “same-as-when-new” or “better-than-when-new”.

[SOURCE:ANSI/RIC001.2-2021, modified — “comprehensive and rigorous” deleted in the definition. Details about the item moved to Note 1 to entry. Details about the condition moved to Note 2 to entry.]

3.5.22

repurpose

adapt a product  (3.2.2) or its component parts for use in a different function than it was originally intended for, without making major modifications to its physical, chemical or mechanical structure

3.5.23

repurposing

process  (3.5.5) by which a product  (3.2.2) or its component parts are adapted for use in a different function than it was originally intended for without making major modifications to its physical or chemical structure

3.5.24

recycling

activities to obtain recovered resources  (3.3.5) for use in a process  (3.5.5) or a product  (3.2.2), excluding energy recovery  (3.3.16)

Note 1 to entry: Activities to obtain recovered resources include recovery, collection, transport, sorting, cleaning and re-processing.

Note 2 to entry: Recycling does not include reuse (3.5.17).

3.5.25

destructive

characteristic of a process (3.5.5) to obtain recoverable resources (3.3.3) without any intent of preserving the functionality or form of the original object

EXAMPLE:

Crushing, shredding, milling, grinding, melting, sawing, mining, other extraction activities.

3.5.26

non-destructive

characteristic of a process (3.5.5) to obtain recoverable resources (3.3.3) with the intent of preserving the entire functionality or form of the original object to the extent possible

Note 1 to entry: Non-destructive processing is usually applied for the purpose of obtaining resources (3.1.5) for reuse (3.5.17) or recycling (3.5.24).

3.5.27

regenerate

improve or restore a degraded ecosystem (3.1.17)

3.5.28

regenerative practice

activity that improves or restores degraded ecosystems (3.1.17)

3.5.29

end of use

point in time at which a product (3.2.2) or resource (3.1.5) is transferred by the holder (3.4.5) to some other holder

Note 1 to entry: The holder can transfer the product or resource internally within their own organization (3.4.1).