Launched in 2020, Circulytics offered a platform for companies to provide their data to the Foundation and receive an individual performance assessment based on a robust scoring methodology. With more than 2,000 companies signed up, this collective effort helped to shape the circular economycircular economyA systems solution framework that tackles global challenges like climate change, biodiversity loss, waste, and pollution. It is based on three principles, driven by design: eliminate waste and pollution, circulate products and materials (at their highest value), and regenerate nature. measurement landscape and played a critical role in driving business adoption of circular practices globally by empowering strategic decision making, providing a means to track progress, and generating opportunities to communicate success.
By 2023, a rise in market demand for data saw circular economy indicators integrated into key non-financial disclosure initiatives, and new reporting frameworks being developed to address gaps in reporting, for example around nature impact. Significantly, the first mandated circular economy reporting standard was launched to meet the requirements of the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive.
To support our Network to focus on the fast-evolving disclosure requirements and to streamline efforts, the Foundation has now stepped away from data collection and individual performance assessments based on Circulytics. Building on our position as a trusted and credible authority in the measurement ecosystem, we have pivoted our measurement workstream to drive harmonisation, completeness, and adoption at scale of circular economy measurement and reporting, leveraging deeper collaboration with key players and our Network.
Next steps
We are no longer accepting new Circulytics submissions.
The Circulytics methodology and resources will remain available for reference, and we will explore opportunities to enhance its value as a tool for the preparation of disclosures.
As a priority, we encourage organisations to disclose their circular economy performance as outlined in the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS 5), for their company’s global scope. To support this, we have published a two-way mapping of the ESRS Drafts and Circulytics indicators which shows strong alignment with many Circulytics indicators.
Read more about measurement and reporting for the circular economy here.
