—
**Regulations for the Circular Economy: A Step Towards a Sustainable Future**
In recent years, the concept of the circular economy has emerged as one of the most promising solutions to address the environmental and social challenges related to production and consumption. After an intensive five-year effort, the ISO 59000 series of standards has finally been published, providing a useful guide for all organizations to implement the principles of circularity and measure their performance in this area.
**The Need for Standardization**
The circular economy is not just a trend; it represents a necessary shift in the way we conceive production and consumption. Therefore, having common standards defining the parameters of this new approach is essential. The ISO 59000 series was developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) with the goal of harmonizing the understanding of the circular economy and supporting its effective application. It addresses a wide range of stakeholders, from government institutions to businesses, and even the non-profit sector, all with a shared objective: to contribute to the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
**The Vocabulary of Circularity (ISO 59004:2024)**
The ISO 59004 standard, titled “Circular Economy: Vocabulary, Principles, and Guidelines for Implementation,” is a fundamental starting point. It offers a clear definition of the circular economy: an economic system that employs a systemic approach to maintain a circular flow of resources by recovering, preserving, or adding value. This standard not only defines key terms and concepts underlying the circular economy but also proposes six fundamental principles:
1. **Systemic Thinking**: Recognizing the complexity of the system and the interactions among its parts.
2. **Value Creation**: Generating economic, social, and environmental value.
3. **Value Sharing**: Ensuring that benefits are equitably distributed among all parties involved.
4. **Resource Management**: Using resources sustainably while minimizing waste.
5. **Resource Traceability**: Monitoring the flow of resources to enhance transparency.
6. **Ecosystem Resilience**: Protecting and strengthening natural ecosystems.
Through these principles, the ISO 59004 standard guides organizations on their journey toward a more sustainable economic model.
**Driving Change in Business Models (ISO 59010:2024)**
The second standard, ISO 59010, focuses on the transition of business models and value networks. It provides practical guidelines for how businesses can shift from linear value creation models to circular models. This approach is crucial for addressing regulatory pressures and consumer expectations regarding sustainability.
ISO 59010 encourages organizations to assess their current business models and map their value chains and networks. This allows each company to develop strategies to enhance circularity, optimize resource use, and create new innovation opportunities.
**Measuring Circularity Performance (ISO 59020:2024)**
Measuring performance is a key element in promoting circularity. The ISO 59020 standard establishes requirements and guidelines to help organizations quantify their circularity performance. This standard standardizes the data collection and calculation process through circularity indicators, ensuring consistent and verifiable results.
By adopting ISO 59020, companies can measure how they reduce resource consumption and optimize material flow, contributing not only to environmental sustainability but also to greater transparency and trust among stakeholders.
**Revising Value Networks (ISO/TR59032:2024)**
Another standard, ISO…
