Application of circularity indicators to bio-based products – Testing the new ISO 59020 framework on product level in a case study

The transition to a circular economy and the adoption of bio-based products are recognized as critical strategies for addressing the existential threats posed by global warming, biodiversity loss, and unsustainable resource consumption. Circularity indicators can be utilized to assess and monitor circularity performance at different levels. This thesis examines the practicality of circularity indicators for bio-based products, focusing on products in the developmental stage. The primary objective is to analyse the suitability of the ISO 59020:2024 framework in this regard through a case study. This study offers valuable insights for the development of circularity indicators, bridging the bio-based industry with circular economy principles, while acknowledging the limitations of the CE paradigm.

The circularity assessment process, following the ISO 59020 guidelines, was applied to two wood-based products at a pre-commercial technology readiness level. The study combines quantitative measurement of circularity indicators with qualitative analysis of practical challenges and opportunities.

The results demonstrate that while it was possible to conduct the ISO 59020 circularity assessment for one of the two products, the circularity indicators do not fully reflect the product system flows. The system boundaries were narrowed to the production phase due to limitations in data availability and the novelty of the products. Gathering suitable circularity data, especially for energy and water flows, was found challenging, but previous LCA models aided the process. The ISO 59020 indicators address many attributes relevant to bio-based systems, such as the renewability of inflows, and aim to incorporate sustainability considerations. However, specific verification methods are not defined due to the framework's general nature.

The results suggest that the ISO 59020 framework can be useful in the design and development stages of products to highlight key circularity aspects, even if extensive circularity measurement is difficult in the pre-commercial phase. Further research is needed on the framework applicability to different bio-based products and the establishment of product category-specific criteria.