Informing Sustainable Standards in 'The Circular Economy' utilising technological and data solutions

In our world of make, use and throw away we are now doing more damage to the planet than good, and this mindset has become unsustainable. One of the solutions to this problem is the ‘Circular Economy’ (CE). The CE replaces the concept of end-of-life production with restoration of natural systems, innovative design to design out waste and keeping products and materials in circulation for as long as possible.

This research will use data science and statistical information to provide a solid foundation (framework) for standards developers to frame the development of standards for the CE. The research will extend the current CE model by interjecting innovative ideas into areas of the CE process: data analysis, restriction of harmful chemicals removing them from the supply chain, research into Local Value Creation (LVC) and research into Sustainable Development in the CE. The research will investigate how Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tagging of products and materials provide a realistic way to trace products and materials in a CE management system. It will also expand the knowledge on digitization in standards development by analyzing key data streams connected to the CE in order to inform the standards development community of the need to develop a standard on the CE.

This research will use a mixed methodology by combining quantitative methods (data analysis) and qualitative data (case studies). This will be detailed in Chapter 3 – Methodology. The data collected from the literature review will drive four main Sections and four research questions in Chapter 4.

This research will analyse through Case Studies and research papers the uptake of circular thinking in China and the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and use the outcomes positive or negative to show practical applications for this research.The objective conclusion of this research is to provide a framework for a European or International standard in order to fill the gap as no such Standard currently exists European or Internationally that addresses the CE.

A Framework with inclusions from the research will form a usable output from the research. This research will inform or be of interest to the Standards development community, data scientists, Circular Economy practitioners and environmental regulators.

The aim of this research is to provide a framework standard using underlying data and statistical information needed to develop a new Standard on the Circular Economy.

Once a Standard is developed and published it can be used by any organisation or group of organisations, country or individual wishing to manage internally and collectively their activities in order to transition to the CE and the Sustainable Development goal of responsible consumption and production.

This research has produced a framework from which sustainable standards can be developed. The data acquired from using RFID tags imbedded in products allows manufacturers to control and analyse the materials in their products specific to hazardous chemicals. This data can also be used to track the product through the supply chain and onto its product life cycle. The data gathered in the product example in this thesis tracks the potential use of hazardous chemicals in the product, this is important information for endof-life decisions to be made on the product. The data can then be used to develop requirements and testing regimes for circular economy standards.

Having identified some of the main areas of future activity in the CE, this research i.e., the circular economy, data science and standards development will continue to evoke research in the CE for the foreseeable future.