UNECE, OECD Guidelines For Measuring Circular Economy (image@Pixabay)
The United Nations Economic for Europe (UNECE) and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation Development (OECD) developed a set of guidelines to measure the circular economy. The new guidelines are introduced to support national and international policymaking.
UNECE said a shift to a more circular economy “is increasingly recognized as vital to sustainable development, decarbonization, resource efficiency, and competitiveness”.
It said more countries are adopting policies linked to the sustainable management of natural resources and the establishment of a circular life-cycle of materials.
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In February 2024, UNECE Task Force, and OECD Expert Group issued the ‘Conference of European Statisticians Guidelines for Measuring Circular Economy’, on a new generation of information for a resource efficient and circular economy.
As per a press release published on March this year, the circular economy is an economy where the value of materials in the economy is maximized and maintained, for as long as possible. The press release also said that the input of materials and their consumption is minimised. The generation of waste is prevented and negative environmental impacts are reduced throughout the life cycle materials.
There are four main conceptual frameworks for the guidelines. They are, material life cycle and value chain; interactions with the environment; socioeconomic opportunities; and responses and actions. The initial set of the indicators seeks to support monitoring progress towards a circular economy. Monitoring the framework outlines the measurement consideration such as the use of System of Environmental Economic Accounting (SEEA) for measuring the circular economy.
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The guidelines were also endorsed by the Conference of European Statistician at its 71st plenary session, that was held from 22-23 June in 2023 Geneva, Switzerland.
