Standardization Framework for Sustainability from Circular Economy 4.0

María Jesús Ávila-Gutiérrez, Alejandro Martín-Gómez, Francisco Aguayo-González and Antonio Córdoba-Roldán
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María Jesús Ávila-Gutiérrez: Design Engineering Dept, University of Seville, Escuela Politécnica Superior, Virgen de África 7, 41011 Seville, Spain
Alejandro Martín-Gómez: Design Engineering Dept, University of Seville, Escuela Politécnica Superior, Virgen de África 7, 41011 Seville, Spain
Francisco Aguayo-González: Design Engineering Dept, University of Seville, Escuela Politécnica Superior, Virgen de África 7, 41011 Seville, Spain
Antonio Córdoba-Roldán: Design Engineering Dept, University of Seville, Escuela Politécnica Superior, Virgen de África 7, 41011 Seville, Spain

Sustainability, 2019, vol. 11, issue 22, 1-26

Abstract: The circular economy (CE) is widely known as a way to implement and achieve sustainability, mainly due to its contribution towards the separation of biological and technical nutrients under cyclic industrial metabolism. The incorporation of the principles of the CE in the links of the value chain of the various sectors of the economy strives to ensure circularity, safety, and efficiency. The framework proposed is aligned with the goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development regarding the orientation towards the mitigation and regeneration of the metabolic rift by considering a double perspective. Firstly, it strives to conceptualize the CE as a paradigm of sustainability. Its principles are established, and its techniques and tools are organized into two frameworks oriented towards causes (cradle to cradle) and effects (life cycle assessment), and these are structured under the three pillars of sustainability, for their projection within the proposed framework. Secondly, a framework is established to facilitate the implementation of the CE with the use of standards, which constitute the requirements, tools, and indicators to control each life cycle phase, and of key enabling technologies (KETs) that add circular value 4.0 to the socio-ecological transition.

Keywords: standardization framework; circular economy; engineering projects; metabolic rift; key enabling technologies; digital transformation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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