The Role of Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment in the Implementation of Circular Economy Principles in Organizations

Abstract

Some of the targets included in the UN Sustainable Development Goal 12 "ensuring sustainable consumption and production patterns" are aligned with the circular economy vision of decoupling economic growth from resource constraints. However, only limited guidance is available to companies on how to make circular economy operational in their activities. The British Standard BS 8001:2017, "Framework for implementing the principles of the circular economy in organizations" provides guidelines to organizations in the transition towards a more circular and sustainable mode of operation. This paper discusses how the six principles and eight-stage flexible framework proposed in the standard can benefit by the integration with the Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment framework and what are the challenges for the food and drink sector.