Transforming our economic system into a regenerative and sustainable one is a complex challenge. The transition to a circular economy is a strategy to support this transformation through productive and responsible management and use of resources. However, understanding and measuring the real impact of its implementation remains complex and often elusive. To truly put circular practices into action, businesses and governments need more than just a theoretical understanding — they must be able to accurately track and measure their progress and impact. Without effective measurement, it is impossible to discern what strategies are effective, which ones are falling short, and where resources should be deployed to achieve the greatest impact. Accurate tracking is also essential for promoting and rewarding sustainable practices. Harmonized measurements and standards must be established across industries and geographies to ensure that progress can be evaluated consistently around the world.In recognition of this need, a range of efforts at the national, regional and international level are already underway. The European Commission has developed a comprehensive approach to measuring the transition to a circular economy in Europe in the form of the Circular Economy Monitoring Framework. This is an essential element of the implementation of the European Green Deal and the Circular Economy Action Plan, which are key initiatives of the European Union for the years to come. But doing this at the level of policy-makers and regulators will not be enough. It is now time for international organizations, intergovernmental bodies as well as standardization bodies to work in collaboration with governments to promote and facilitate harmonized, robust, interoperable and transparent circular economy metrics. Stakeholders such as businesses, academia and civil society should participate in and support these efforts towards a common understanding of how to measure and track a circular economy that delivers sustainable growth.Hugo Schally Adviser for International Negotiations, Directorate General for the Environment, European Commission Harmonizing Metrics to Measure Circularity: A Call to Action 4

Harmonizing Metrics to Measure Circularity A Call to Action 2024