Circular economy: three ISO standards to take action

ISO 59004 (principles and terminology), ISO 59010 (transition of business models) and ISO 59020 (measuring circularity performance): keep these three figures in mind; they’ll help you strengthen your circular strategy—or get started with one, if you’re wondering where to begin. Because it’s now clear: we must make our economic models circular and put an end to a predatory, climate-destructive linear economy. As we explained already here in 201 8. Today, three new international voluntary standards are available, bearing the NF prefix in the AFNOR collection. They were developed at France’s initiative within a technical committee chaired by Catherine Chevauché (Veolia) of France. These standards foreshadow future guidelines on the subject, which may eventually be certifiable. You can Listen again here the introductory webinar on this topic organized by the International Organization for Standardization on May 22, 2024.

Define concepts, develop business models

We talk about waste, end-of-life, and recycling rates, but not everyone understands these terms in the same way, explains Roger Ebengou, Director of Environment and Circular Economy for Europe at the Michelin Group, who helped draft ISO 59004. And he did so precisely to establish a common vocabulary. If we don’t speak the same language, we’ll never have indicators to share. Yet the circular economy, by its very nature, relies on our ability to work with other value chains, much like an ecosystem, he says. Defining the terms allows us to define the business models.

At EDF, Anne-Sophie Coince, a research engineer, co-chaired the working group that developed the foundational standard on terminology for France (alongside Jorge Soto of Braskem, representing Brazil). She emphasizes how the new NF ISO 59004 standard has successfully preserved the spirit of the very first experimental standard on the circular economy, XP X30-901 , a document dating from October 2018 that was already a French initiative at the time. We have managed to stay true to the concept of the circular economy as promoted by ADEME—a highly practical approach—which we have taken even further by incorporating the principle of ecosystem regeneration , explains Anne-Sophie Coince.

Sharing value creation

“We’ve enshrined the principle of sharing value creation in our policies,” says Anne-Sophie Coince of EDF. “We know that when we close energy and material loops within a region, there can be winners and losers. We need to be vigilant on this point to ensure that implementation is attractive and sustainable.” Another key focus area is energy recovery, which is not limited to incineration. Some experts wanted it excluded from the scope of the circular economy, but it was important to include it, particularly for countries that store waste in open dumps: for them, burning it and recovering the heat generated is already a major step forward , argues Anne-Sophie Coince. Because that’s also what matters in ISO standards: the ability to help all countries move forward. In fact, ISO has gone to great lengths to bring in as many representatives as possible—particularly from African countries—by covering their travel and accommodation costs and providing training to help them have a greater say.

A tool to help you comply with the law and shop responsibly

In France, the regulatory landscape is promising, with initiatives such as the 2020 Anti-Waste Law, the Repair Bonus, and calls to implement a circular economy VAT. From a French perspective, these three new ISO standards can therefore be seen as a guide to help implement a number of regulatory requirements—whether French or European—and to inspire future measures. Voluntary standards help harmonize practices across the board and, we hope, lay the groundwork for best practices and fair competition , says Frédéric Poeydemenge, speaking on behalf of BIC.

EDF already uses a circularity matrix for both internal and external projects, in order to assess the extent to which low-carbon construction projects can also become more circular.

At Michelin, Roger Ebengou points out that the group’s ambitions have been clearly stated since the postwar period, with significant efforts first focused on tire retreading and then on tire longevity. We go to great lengths—up to two or three lifetimes and a million kilometers—for a tire he estimates.

Voluntary standards also provide consumers with the tools they need to make more responsible purchasing decisions by verifying manufacturers' claims. "Consumers are already contributing to the circular economy, even if they don't always realize it," notes Roger Ebengou. "We sort our waste, and we buy local, in bulk, or repackaged. Standards help guide our choices, challenge retailers' sales pitches, compare like-for-like products, and avoid the greenwashing practiced by some." 

Circular Economy: Getting Training and Gaining Recognition for Your Practices

While awaiting management system certification—similar to ISO 14001 certification for environmental management in general—anyone claiming to apply best practices in the circular economy already has access to recognition marks, with the aim of lending credibility to their approach and reassuring their customers. And because the circular economy begins with eco-design—to minimize impacts on the rest of the life cycle from the outset—we must not forget AFAQ Eco-design . Nor is there any need to go through formal training: it will always be easier to implement circular economy projects based on best practices if you have at least a basic understanding of the subject, particularly the concept of life cycle assessment—the be-all and end-all of any environmental initiative! To that end, consider AFNOR Compétences’ new certification program to become Project Manager for Eco-Design and Life Cycle Assessment (5 days) .

Finally, feel free to ring the doorbell at AFNOR BAO to consult an expert on ISO 59004, 59010, 59020, and, more generally, the ISO 14000 family of standards. We’ll find the right person for you, working closely with your teams.

A standard on the environmental impact of e-commerce deliveries

This is the story of a pre-standard document (an AFNOR Spec, in our jargon) that ultimately became a standard, thanks to the strength of the text and the fact that the signatories were representative of the industry. In recent months, stakeholders such as La Poste, Fevad, Ademe, CDiscount, Colis privé, Decathlon, Veepee, the Ministry of Ecological Transition, and Familles Rurales have come together to develop a tool for measuring the carbon footprint of online order deliveries. The goal was simple, yet very ambitious: to offer internet users, at the moment they choose their delivery method, a calculation tool allowing them to immediately understand the environmental consequences.

Behind the scenes, we had to agree on a number of key factors, such as this one: “If a consumer has a package delivered to a pickup point but drives 2 kilometers from home to pick it up, how do we factor that trip into the calculation?” explains Xavier Ambrosini (La Poste). The goal is to inform consumers by giving them access to reliable and comparable information across e-commerce retailers and delivery methods. The brand-new standard XP X50-401 makes choices, stands by them, and helps everyone move forward. Note: This text enables e-commerce professionals to comply with the June 2024 Charter of Commitments to Reduce the Environmental Impact of Commerce.