Integrating circularity and life cycle sustainability assessments

Robust monitoring and assessment methods are required to assess products and services in terms of their degree of circularity and their contribution to sustainability. Thus, circular life cycle sustainability assessment (C-LCSA) was developed as a holistic approach to consider both the technical circularity and the complexity of the three dimensions of sustainability (environment, economy, and social). In the webinar, the C-LCSA framework that applies in parallel life cycle assessment (LCA), life cycle costing (LCC), social life cycle assessment (S-LCA), and circularity assessment (CA) was presented: C-LCSA = LCA + LCC + S-LCA + CA. The webinar also included the presentation of the criteria for selecting appropriate circularity indicators, specifications for the application of traditional life cycle approaches in the context of C-LCSA (e.g., related to end-of-life allocations), and insights gained in the application of the framework depicted below.