New goals need new metrics

Over the past decade, I’ve observed a shift in thinking about what it means to manage resources sustainably. Traditionally, organisations have had an end-of-pipe lens: i.e. recovering value from discarded resources. This has led to a focus on recycling programs. But more recently, organisations are focusing on preventing products and materials from ever reaching a bin.

Manufacturers are extending the life of their products through redesign, refurbishment and repair. Consumers are changing their preferences away from owning physical goods (like CDs) to renting or subscribing to services (like music streaming). Meanwhile, cities and governments are grappling with how they can accelerate this transition.

With new goals comes a need for new metrics. But what measures are helpful for tracking the journey from linear to circular?

Join me as I discover and review circularity measures. I’ll be unpacking what metrics are useful, what’s involved with measuring them, and what insights they provide. I look forward to sharing this journey with you. I invite you to join my mailing list if you’d like to receive updates on my findings.