Circularity

Kathrin Greiff, Berfin Bayram and Wiebke Hagedorn

Chapter 11 in Elgar Encyclopedia of Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment, 2026, pp 32-35 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: Circularity serves as a fundamental concept within the Circular Economy (CE), encapsulating the holistic approach toward sustainability. The CE represents a paradigm shift toward sustainable resource management. Although there is no clear definition for the term circularity, it is a key metric for measuring progress toward a CE and indicates compliance with CE principles. This entry addresses the multi-layered nature of circularity and explores its various dimensions, assessment methods, and impacts within the CE framework. Mass-based indicators are widely used as fundamental tools to assess circularity or CE performance, though they have certain limitations. Efforts to standardize measurement and assessment emphasize the importance of boundary setting, data collection, and reporting. Despite challenges in measurement and assessment, circularity indicators provide valuable insights into progress toward sustainability goals.

Keywords: Circular economy; Sustainability assessment; Material flow analysis; R-strategies; Monitoring; Resource efficiency (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
ISBN: 9781035309887
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