Harmonizing Circular Economy Practices in an ISO Global Standard - Implications for Sustainable Packaging

Why is standardization important for circular economy (CE) and sustainable packaging?
• Very different interpretation of what does and does not constitute a “circular” approach

Practical CE applications to date that impact sustainable packaging design (which may inform future standards)
• May involve design changes, process changes, and restructuring recovery efforts to avoid waste streams, all with the goal of “closing the loop”

What the global standards development process for CE should look like
• Harmonize current CE practices to determine most appropriate definitions and best practices based on stakeholder input

Long-term policy implications of an ISO standard on CE and sustainable packaging
• A globally accepted definition (and promotion) of circular economy will lead to further policy development and revisions and have an impact on sustainable packaging

Key takeaways that may impact sustainable packaging
• Participation in (and even just monitoring) standard development will help you remain ahead of the curve in positioning for future best practices
• Having a seat at the table means your organization will have a say in key decisions

For more information on joining the U.S. Technical Advisory Committee (TAG) for ISO TC 323 Circular Economy, please contact:
• US TAG ISO TC 323 chair Alison Conroy, Georgia Pacific (Alison.conroy@gapac.com) or US TAG ISO TC 323 chair-elect Mike Levy, First Environment (mlevy@firstenvironment.com)
• US TAG ISO TC 323 Secretary Emily Lorenz, Consulting Engineer (emilyblorenz@gmail.com)
• Travis Murdoch, ASTM International US TAG ISO TC 323 Administrator for US TAG (tmurdock@astm.org