Circular economy: On the road to ISO 59000 family of standards

Abstract

The article aims to analyse the experience regarding the adoption of the voluntary French standard XP X30-901, used as the main reference point to design the ISO 59004 that will define the terminology, principles and guidance to provide a common understanding of the circular economy. After an analysis of its structure, based on a case study conducted in a pioneering company, the study provides an innovative contribution to the understanding of the adoption of Circular Economy Project Management Systems by companies to move towards CE through XP X30-901, explaining the main drivers and barriers, the standard's adoption process and the effects in the results. The main enabler is considered its experience working with an integrated management system. The adoption has helped to integrate actions to improve the indicators of the seven areas considered by the standard: Sustainable Sourcing, Eco-design, Industrial Symbiosis, Functional Economy, Responsible Consumption, Extending Lifetime and Efficient Management of Materials at the end of life. Overall, the company appears to be satisfied with the adoption, mainly, because it has helped it to structure actions to improve its circularity indicators. However, the need for capital to develop the investments has been the most important barrier.