Standardisation on Circular Economy
for open access to
standardisation activities
Bridging Standards and Your Business
As the Belgian sector operator for textiles, Centexbel follows the standardisation activities of the Belgian, European and international standardisation organisations in the field of the circular economy on behalf of our companies.
We facilitate access to the various committees by creating mirror committees open to Belgian companies.
What is Circular Economy?
The circular economy is a system where materials never become waste and nature is regenerated. In a circular economy, products and materials are kept in circulation through processes like maintenance, reuse, refurbishment, remanufacture, recycling, and composting. The circular economy tackles climate change and other global challenges, like biodiversity loss, waste, and pollution, by decoupling economic activity from the consumption of finite resources.
The circular economy is based on three principles, driven by design:
- Eliminate waste and pollution
- Circulate products and materials (at their highest value)
- Regenerate nature
Definition by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation.
NBN/I323 - Circular economy
NBN/I323 - Circular Economy is a Belgian informative standard (indicated by "I") intended to support organizations in their transition to a circular economy. While it does not contain binding requirements like an official standard (such as an NBN EN ISO standard), it provides guidelines, definitions, and principles that help structure the implementation of circular strategies.
Purpose of NBN/I323 - Circular Economy:
The main objective of this standard is:
To help organizations apply circular economy principles in a structured and consistent way, enabling them to reduce environmental impact, use resources more efficiently, and maintain or create economic value.
More specifically, it aims to:
- Define the core principles of the circular economy (such as reuse, repair, remanufacturing, recycling).
- Provide guidelines for strategies like product-as-a-service, life extension, and closed-loop systems.
- Support decision-making around circular business models.
- Bring consistency in the use of circular terminology within the Belgian market and policy context.
This standard is intended for both public and private organizations that aim to contribute to a more sustainable economy, and it serves as a stepping stone toward certification or the use of more technical standards in specific sectors.
CEN/TC 473 - Circular economy
Scope
Standardization in the field of Circular Economy to develop horizontal standards relating to European specific prerequisites, legislation, and policy. The standards aim to provide recommendations, requirements, methodologies and tools to support and measure transition towards a circular economy. The deliverables aim to unify international and European standardization while contributing to a sustainable green economy.
Excluded:
- Aspects of Circular Economy already covered by existing committees or future standardization falling within specific sectors, product groups, material, or data standardization.
- Aspects concerning standardization on Eco-design and Digital Product Passport.
ISO/TC 323 - Circular economy
Within the Technical Committee ISO/TC 323 - Circular economy, five Working Groups (WGs) are addressing standards regarding circular economy that can have an impact on the textile industry.
General scope of ISO/TC 323
Standardization in the field of Circular Economy to develop frameworks, guidance, supporting tools and requirements for the implementation of activities of all involved organizations, to maximize the contribution to Sustainable Development.
Excluded from this scope are all aspects of Circular Economy already covered by existing committees.
Note: In parallel, ISO TC 323 works in cooperation with existing committees on subjects that may support Circular Economy.
ISO TC 323
Contacts
