A new standard for the ‘circular economy’ has been launched by BSI – BS 8001: 2017: Framework for implementing the principles of the circular economy in organizations – guide
The British business standards company explains that the ‘circular economy’ is a concept which challenges organisations to re-think how their resources are managed to create financial, environmental and social benefits.
It says BS 8001 was developed to meet these mutually beneficial goals, by providing guiding principles for organizations and individuals to consider and implement more sustainable practices.
It is said to be the first standard of its kind, both in the UK and globally.
One of the key aims of the circular economy is to keep products, components and materials at their highest utility and value at all times, in keeping with the mantra of the circular economy as being restorative and regenerative by design.
BS 8001 outlines what the circular economy is and how an organization can transition from a linear to a circular, and more sustainable, day-to-day operation.
Practical implementation of the six principles of the circular economy – innovation; stewardship; collaboration; value optimizations; transparency; and “systems thinking” – is the bedrock of the standard.
Step-by-step guidance on how an organisation can navigate through the different stages of implementation is provided.
“Systems thinking” is defined in the standard as an understanding of how organizations, individual decisions and activities interact within the wider systems they are part of.
Extensive input from business went into the development of the standard which has ensured that it is useable in real-world scenarios, and that the language used in the document is not overly technical.
“Resource efficiency and circular economic practices are not just CSR buzzwords, they make real bottom line business sense,” says Chartered Institution of Wastes Management Chief Executive Dr Colin Church.
Francois Souchet, Project Manager for Insight and Analysis at the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, adds: “This standard provides a valuable introduction to the practical action organizations can take to accelerate their transition to a circular economy.”
