Application of Life Cycle Assessment For Evaluating Circular Product Systems

Lifecycle-based methods for the assessment of circular economy (CE) systems are under consideration by the technical committee ISO/TC 323, CE of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). This study reviews the application of life cycle assessment (LCA) in CE to introduce a potential framework for a comprehensive environmental assessment and circularity quantification of circular product systems and to contribute to the agenda of ISO/TC 323, CE. The study is conducted in two steps. In the first step, the methodological approaches of LCA and CE are defined and the conceptual relationship between them is also explained. In the second step, the potentialities, and limitations of the application of LCA in CE have been identified. A diverse interpretation of the CE concept is identified as one of the main limitations that obstruct transforming the product systems from linear to circular and makes the application of LCA in CE challenging. A framework has been introduced by adapting the standardized LCA methodology regarding the requirements of CE design strategies and integrating it with the Material Circularity Indicator (MCI). The proposed framework can aid in transforming linear product systems into circular ones and investigate whether an increase in circularity improves or impairs the environmental performance of the targeted circular product systems. However, a careful assessment is required from the LCA experts and practitioners to establish links amongst all phases in an LCA study while incorporating CE design strategies into a product/service life cycle.