Catalyst indicators for the circular economy?

Summary Being able to measure, improve and manage the circularity performance of industrial products is of paramount importance in a period of transition towards more circular industrial practices, in line with sustainable development objectives. However, without a stabilized definition of the circular economy, the number of circularity indicators, of unequal ambitions, is still growing, creating a blur around their proper use and appropriation by industrial practitioners. After highlighting the benefits of using such indicators, a systematic review of 55 sets of indicators leads to a first typology of circularity indicators, thus clarifying their possible uses. Based on this, we propose a set of five circularity indicators to support manufacturers, at a micro level, in their transition to more circular practices. This work suggests future key areas for moving towards a circular economy in an effective, efficient and sustainable way.