ISO 59000 - THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY STANDARDS SERIES

A STEP FORWARD TOWARDS BUSINESS CIRCULARITY 

ISO (International Organization for Standardization) has published the ISO 59000 series of standards to guide the transition to a circular economy. This set of standards represents a key reference point in the shift toward more sustainable economic models, while harmonizing definitions and practices at the global level.

A NEW ECONOMIC MODEL

According to ISO 59004 and UNI/TS 11820, the circular economy is defined as a system aimed at maintaining the continuous flow of resources by recovering, preserving, and enhancing their value, with the objective of contributing to sustainable development.

In contrast to the traditional linear economic model, which follows the “take - make -dispose” approach, the circular economy seeks to extend the useful life of resources, maximize their value throughout the lifecycle, and recover and regenerate materials at the end of their use phase.

STANDARDS WITHIN THE ISO 59000 SERIES

The ISO 59000 standards provide a structured framework for the transition to a circular economy, applicable to all organizations regardless of sector. Below is a summary of the main standards published to date:

  • ISO 59004:2024: defines key terms, the vision, and principles of the circular economy, and provides practical guidance for implementing sustainable strategies.
  • ISO 59010:2024: offers detailed guidance on transforming business models and value networks toward circularity, supporting organizations in rethinking their corporate strategies.
  • ISO 59020:2024: establishes guidelines for measuring and assessing circular economy performance through standardized indicators, ensuring consistency and verifiability of results. This document aims to standardize the process by which organizations collect and calculate data using mandatory and optional circularity indicators, ensuring consistent and verifiable outcomes. The standard provides a structured framework for defining system boundaries, selecting appropriate indicators, and interpreting data to assess circular performance at multiple levels, from territorial and inter-organizational levels to organizational and specific product levels.
  • ISO/TR 59032:2024: a technical report that complements ISO 59010 by providing additional insights into existing value networks.

These standards are designed for global applicability, supporting organizations in aligning their operations with the objectives of the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

BENEFITS OF IMPLEMENTING ISO 59000 STANDARDS

Adopting the ISO 59000 standards offers numerous benefits to organizations, including:

  • An internationally standardized approach, facilitating comparison and benchmarking
  • A holistic perspective: covering multiple aspects of the circular economy, from defining principles to measuring performance
  • Sectoral adaptability: applicable across all industries, making the standards flexible and relevant to a wide range of industrial sectors
  • Support for sustainable development: aligning business activities with global sustainability goals, promoting resource efficiency and waste reduction
  • Improved business performance: contributing to cost savings, creating new revenue streams, and enhancing resilience to resource scarcity.
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