IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/bla/inecol/v28y2024i1p41-58.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Circular life cycle sustainability assessment: An integrated framework

Author

Listed:
  • Anna Luthin
  • Marzia Traverso
  • Robert H. Crawford

Abstract

Robust monitoring and assessment methods are required to assess circular economy (CE) concepts in terms of their degree of circularity and their contribution to sustainability. This research aimed to develop an integrated framework for the CE context—considering both the technical circularity and the complexity of the three dimensions of sustainability (environment, economy, and social). Two existing methods were identified as an appropriate foundation: CE indicators and life cycle sustainability assessment (LCSA), combining life cycle assessment (LCA), life cycle costing (LCC), and social life cycle assessment (S‐LCA). The developed circular life cycle sustainability assessment (C‐LCSA) framework added circularity assessment (CA) as an additional dimension to LCSA (C‐LCSA = LCA + LCC + S‐LCA + CA). The abundance of CE indicators required a systematic selection process to identify the most appropriate indicators for the framework which was built on criteria levels, performance, loops, unit, dimension, and transversality. The material circularity indicator, product circularity indicator, and longevity indicator were identified as most suited for C‐LCSA. Being developed for a single life cycle, the traditional life cycle approaches needed refinements for application to CE concepts, derived from discussions and proposed adaptions presented in the academic literature. The cut‐off approach was identified as the most suitable end‐of‐life allocation method for C‐LCSA, being in line with the technical system boundaries. C‐LCSA can be used by LCA practitioners to identify trade‐offs between an improved circularity and resulting impacts on the environmental, economic, and social pillars to provide a basis for decision making in industrial ecology.

Suggested Citation

  • Anna Luthin & Marzia Traverso & Robert H. Crawford, 2024. "Circular life cycle sustainability assessment: An integrated framework," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 28(1), pages 41-58, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:inecol:v:28:y:2024:i:1:p:41-58
    DOI: 10.1111/jiec.13446
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://doi.org/10.1111/jiec.13446
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1111/jiec.13446?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Susana Garrido Azevedo & Radu Godina & João Carlos de Oliveira Matias, 2017. "Proposal of a Sustainable Circular Index for Manufacturing Companies," Resources, MDPI, vol. 6(4), pages 1-24, November.
    2. Patricia van Loon & Luk N. Van Wassenhove, 2018. "Assessing the economic and environmental impact of remanufacturing: a decision support tool for OEM suppliers," International Journal of Production Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 56(4), pages 1662-1674, February.
    3. Anja T. Braun & Peter Kleine-Moellhoff & Volker Reichenberger & Stephan Seiter, 2018. "Case Study Analysing Potentials to Improve Material Efficiency in Manufacturing Supply Chains, Considering Circular Economy Aspects," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(3), pages 1-12, March.
    4. Ritthoff, Michael & Rohn, Holger & Liedtke, Christa, 2002. "Calculating MIPS: Resource productivity of products and services," Wuppertal Spezial, Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and Energy, volume 27, number 27e.
    5. Matthias Finkbeiner & Erwin M. Schau & Annekatrin Lehmann & Marzia Traverso, 2010. "Towards Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 2(10), pages 1-14, October.
    6. Edis Glogic & Guido Sonnemann & Steven B. Young, 2021. "Environmental Trade-Offs of Downcycling in Circular Economy: Combining Life Cycle Assessment and Material Circularity Indicator to Inform Circularity Strategies for Alkaline Batteries," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-12, January.
    7. Kirchherr, Julian & Reike, Denise & Hekkert, Marko, 2017. "Conceptualizing the circular economy: An analysis of 114 definitions," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 127(C), pages 221-232.
    8. Niero, Monia & Olsen, Stig Irving, 2016. "Circular economy: To be or not to be in a closed product loop? A Life Cycle Assessment of aluminium cans with inclusion of alloying elements," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 114(C), pages 18-31.
    9. Jonathan M. Cullen, 2017. "Circular Economy: Theoretical Benchmark or Perpetual Motion Machine?," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 21(3), pages 483-486, June.
    10. Lucas Caon Menegatti & Letícia Ikeda Castrillon Fernandez & Lucas Rosse Caldas & Marco Pepe & Francesco Pittau & Giulio Zani & Marco Carlo Rampini & Julien Michels & Romildo Dias Toledo Filho & Enzo M, 2022. "Environmental Performance of Deconstructable Concrete Beams Made with Recycled Aggregates," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(18), pages 1-25, September.
    11. Marzia Traverso & Matthias Finkbeiner & Andreas Jørgensen & Laura Schneider, 2012. "Life Cycle Sustainability Dashboard," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 16(5), pages 680-688, October.
    12. Éléonore Lèbre & Glen Corder & Artem Golev, 2017. "The Role of the Mining Industry in a Circular Economy: A Framework for Resource Management at the Mine Site Level," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 21(3), pages 662-672, June.
    13. Marcus Linder & Steven Sarasini & Patricia Loon, 2017. "A Metric for Quantifying Product-Level Circularity," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 21(3), pages 545-558, June.
    14. T. E. Graedel & Julian Allwood & Jean‐Pierre Birat & Matthias Buchert & Christian Hagelüken & Barbara K. Reck & Scott F. Sibley & Guido Sonnemann, 2011. "What Do We Know About Metal Recycling Rates?," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 15(3), pages 355-366, June.
    15. Jose Arturo Garza-Reyes & Ailin Salomé Valls & Simon Peter Nadeem & Anthony Anosike & Vikas Kumar, 2019. "A circularity measurement toolkit for manufacturing SMEs," International Journal of Production Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 57(23), pages 7319-7343, December.
    16. Sina Leipold & Anna Petit‐Boix & Anran Luo & Hanna Helander & Machteld Simoens & Weslynne S. Ashton & Callie W. Babbitt & Alba Bala & Catharina R. Bening & Morten Birkved & Fenna Blomsma & Casper Boks, 2023. "Lessons, narratives, and research directions for a sustainable circular economy," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 27(1), pages 6-18, February.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Cris Garcia-Saravia Ortiz-de-Montellano & Yvonne Meer, 2022. "A Theoretical Framework for Circular Processes and Circular Impacts Through a Comprehensive Review of Indicators," Global Journal of Flexible Systems Management, Springer;Global Institute of Flexible Systems Management, vol. 23(2), pages 291-314, June.
    2. Caroline Samberger & Sanaz Imen & Katerina Messologitis & Arthur Umble & Joseph G. Jacangelo, 2024. "Assessing circularity of wastewater treatment systems: A critical review of indicators," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 28(2), pages 262-276, April.
    3. Roxana Lavinia Pacurariu & Sorin Daniel Vatca & Elena Simina Lakatos & Laura Bacali & Mircea Vlad, 2021. "A Critical Review of EU Key Indicators for the Transition to the Circular Economy," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(16), pages 1-19, August.
    4. Michael Saidani & Alissa Kendall & Bernard Yannou & Yann Leroy & François Cluzel, 2019. "Closing the loop on platinum from catalytic converters: Contributions from material flow analysis and circularity indicators," Post-Print hal-02094798, HAL.
    5. Andreea Loredana Bîrgovan & Elena Simina Lakatos & Andrea Szilagyi & Lucian Ionel Cioca & Roxana Lavinia Pacurariu & George Ciobanu & Elena Cristina Rada, 2022. "How Should We Measure? A Review of Circular Cities Indicators," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-16, April.
    6. Erik Roos Lindgreen & Roberta Salomone & Tatiana Reyes, 2020. "A Critical Review of Academic Approaches, Methods and Tools to Assess Circular Economy at the Micro Level," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(12), pages 1-27, June.
    7. García-Barragán, Juan F. & Eyckmans, Johan & Rousseau, Sandra, 2019. "Defining and Measuring the Circular Economy: A Mathematical Approach," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 157(C), pages 369-372.
    8. Alexandra Barón Dorado & Gerusa Giménez Leal & Rodolfo de Castro Vila, 2022. "Environmental policy and corporate sustainability: The mediating role of environmental management systems in circular economy adoption," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 29(4), pages 830-842, July.
    9. Christoph Helbig & Jonas Huether & Charlotte Joachimsthaler & Christian Lehmann & Simone Raatz & Andrea Thorenz & Martin Faulstich & Axel Tuma, 2022. "A terminology for downcycling," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 26(4), pages 1164-1174, August.
    10. Lee, Sir Yee & Hu, Jiayao & Lim, Ming K, 2021. "Maximising the circular economy and sustainability outcomes: An end-of-life tyre recycling outlets selection model," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 232(C).
    11. Benedetta Esposito & Nicola Raimo & Ornella Malandrino & Filippo Vitolla, 2023. "Circular economy disclosure and integrated reporting: The role of corporate governance mechanisms," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 32(8), pages 5403-5419, December.
    12. Franco Fassio & Chiara Chirilli, 2023. "The Circular Economy and the Food System: A Review of Principal Measuring Tools," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-22, June.
    13. Jan Streeck & Quirin Dammerer & Dominik Wiedenhofer & Fridolin Krausmann, 2021. "The role of socio‐economic material stocks for natural resource use in the United States of America from 1870 to 2100," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 25(6), pages 1486-1502, December.
    14. Gunasekara, Lahiru & Robb, David J. & Zhang, Abraham, 2023. "Used product acquisition, sorting and disposition for circular supply chains: Literature review and research directions," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 260(C).
    15. Marit Moe Bjørnbet & Sigurd Sagen Vildåsen, 2021. "Life Cycle Assessment to Ensure Sustainability of Circular Business Models in Manufacturing," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(19), pages 1-13, October.
    16. Marta Negri & Alessandra Neri & Enrico Cagno & Gabriele Monfardini, 2021. "Circular Economy Performance Measurement in Manufacturing Firms: A Systematic Literature Review with Insights for Small and Medium Enterprises and New Adopters," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-27, August.
    17. Nancy Bocken & Lars Strupeit & Katherine Whalen & Julia Nußholz, 2019. "A Review and Evaluation of Circular Business Model Innovation Tools," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(8), pages 1-25, April.
    18. Georgios Lanaras-Mamounis & Anastasios Kipritsis & Thomas A. Tsalis & Konstantinos Ι. Vatalis & Ioannis E. Nikolaou, 2022. "A Framework for Assessing the Contribution of Firms to Circular Economy: a Triple-Level Approach," Circular Economy and Sustainability, Springer, vol. 2(3), pages 883-902, September.
    19. Skare, Marinko & Gavurova, Beata & Kovac, Viliam, 2024. "Mitigating resource curse impact through implementing circular economy effective strategies," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 92(C).
    20. Luiz C. Terra dos Santos & Adrielle Frimaio & Biagio F. Giannetti & Feni Agostinho & Gengyuan Liu & Cecilia M. V. B. Almeida, 2023. "Integrating Environmental, Social, and Economic Dimensions to Monitor Sustainability in the G20 Countries," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(8), pages 1-18, April.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:bla:inecol:v:28:y:2024:i:1:p:41-58. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Wiley Content Delivery (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/journal.asp?ref=1088-1980 .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.