Three‐dimensional product circularity

Abstract

Understanding product circularity as "three-dimensional" could anchor the Circular Economy to common principles while affording its followers flexibility about how to measure it in their specific sectors and disciplines and within their organization's means. Inspired by a heuristic developed for the urban planning profession to cope with the inherent conflicts of Sustainable Development, this article argues that measuring product-level circularity should consider ways to achieve (1) high material recirculation, (2) high utilization, and (3) high endurance in products and service offerings.Achieving all three dimensions ensures that material flowing through the economy is recovered from prior use phases, that it is used intensely, and that it retains its value in spite of exogenous changes. The article argues further that these three dimensions ought to be measured and reported separately rather than as a composite metric and that certain applications will have opportunities to improve circularity through certain dimensions better than others. The article also explains how researchers at RISE (Research Institutes of Sweden AB) are working with industry and government partners to measure the three dimensions and how diverse actors interested in the Circular Economy can use the three dimensions to take the first steps in their transition to circularity.

Nexus Between Life Cycle Assessment, Circularity, and Sustainability Indicators—Part I: a Review

“…In fact, these existing studies mainly focused on the quantitative intrinsic results of LCA-based and circularity-based indicators, without discussing, e.g., their usability, ease of implementation, or robustness to actually being deployed practically and in a sound manner during the design and development process. In addition, as the TBL approach to sustainability measurement includes environmental, economic, and social indicators, Boyer et al (2021) recently argued that the assessment of the circularity performance should consider three dimensions [57]: "(i) high material recirculation, (ii) high utilization, and (iii) high endurance in products and service offerings" [57].…”

Optimizing Product Life Cycle Systems for Manufacturing in a Circular Economy

“…In addition to the metrics themselves, it is important to consider the types of classifications available for manufacturing-focused circularity metrics. Recently, Boyer et al [20] discussed the importance of evaluating the product level circularity in three dimensions: recirculation (composition of secondary material), utilization (intensity of product usage), and endurance (product's ability to retain its value over time). In another comprehensive review [21] discussing CE and its quantification using circularity metrics, Parchomenko presented three major circularity-metrics clusters similar to Boyer et al's dimensions.…”

“…2 and classified. Table 2 summarizes several metrics that are more prominently used in literature; they also represent all three of Boyer et al's [20] circularity dimensions (recirculation, utilization, and endurance). As depicted in Fig.…”

Public Procurement for the Circular Economy: a Comparative Study of Sweden and Spain

“…For instance, one area of attention for policy making is life-cycle costing, as included in the Directive, LOU and LCSP. 61 Another area is standardization and circularity metrics addressing all dimensions of CE: (1) material recirculation, (2) (re)utilization, and (3) longevity of products to ensure that materials are reclaimed from prior use phases, used intensely, and retain their value for as long as possible [61].…”