An Assessment Framework for Circular Economy Practices in the Production Sector

Abstract

The transition to a Circular Economy (CE) within the production sector faces significant challenges, including the lack of comprehensive frameworks and robust assessment tools. Existing approaches often emphasize specific aspects, such as resource efficiency, material usage, or product design, limiting their effectiveness in achieving scalable and cohesive CE practices. Additionally, the absence of consistent metrics for evaluating environmental and economic impacts hinders the refinement and optimization of CE strategies. This work presents a preliminary assessment framework for CE in production sectors, introducing a novel tool to evaluate the effectiveness of CE initiatives. The tool provides clear and consistent metrics to support decision-making and implementation. While this work offers valuable insights, it represents an initial step toward a more comprehensive and unified approach, laying the foundation for future research to develop a robust framework that will enable policymakers and industries to advance sustainability in the production sector.