Sustainable Holiday Shopping with ISO 59020 & ISO 59010

Americans produce an extra 25% of waste between Thanksgiving and New Year’s, which adds up to an estimated 25 million tons of garbage, or about one million tons per week. This holiday season, however, there is an opportunity to embrace a more sustainable approach when it comes to holiday shopping. By applying the circular economy principles outlined in ISO 59020:2024 and ISO 59010:2024, organizations and companies can transition to and measure circular economy practices, assuring that claims about circularity are transparent and evidence-based. In this way, ISO 59020:2024 and ISO 59010:2024 impact consumers by promoting more trustworthy sustainability claims and guiding businesses towards circular economy models.

What Is the Circular Economy?

The circular economy according to ISO 59020:2024 is the “economic system that uses a systemic approach to maintain a circular flow of resources, by recovering, retaining or adding to their value, while contributing to sustainable development.” In other words, the circular economy is an alternative to the traditional “take, make, dispose” model. It is about designing out waste, keeping products in use longer, and regenerating natural systems. Rather than simply consuming and discarding, circularity seeks to minimize resource use and maximize the lifecycle of products.

Objective of the Circular Economy

The goal of the circular economy is to create systems where products are reused, refurbished, recycled, and repurposed, ensuring a more sustainable flow of materials. In a world where sustainability is becoming increasingly important, these practices are essential to combating the environmental challenges we face, including pollution, waste accumulation, and resource depletion.

ISO 59020:2024—Measuring Circularity in Products and Services

ISO 59020:2024 sets forth requirements and guidance for organizations to measure and assess their circularity performance within defined economic systems. This document aims to standardize the process by which organizations collect and calculate data using mandatory and optional circularity indicators, assuring consistent and verifiable results. ISO 59020:2024 provides a structured framework for setting system boundaries, selecting appropriate indicators, and interpreting data to evaluate the circularity performance at multiple levels—from regional and inter-organizational to organizational and product-specific levels.

ISO 59010:2024—Implementing Circular Business Models

While ISO 59020 helps us measure circularity, ISO 59010:2024 provides guidance for organizations wishing to transition their value creation models and networks from a linear to a circular framework. This standard focuses on business-oriented strategies to implement circular economy practices at both organizational and inter-organizational levels.

How Do ISO 59020:2024 and ISO 59010:2024 (Indirectly) Impact Consumers?

By standardizing circular economy practices for businesses, ISO 59020:2024 and ISO 59010:2024 indirectly help consumers by increasing the transparency of “sustainable” and “circular” products and services. ISO 59020:2024 helps assure that “circular” or “sustainable” claims are backed by solid, verifiable data, protecting consumers from greenwashing. and ISO 59010:2024 provides a framework for companies to transition their business models, which can lead to more durable, repairable, and recyclable products. This ultimately helps consumers make more informed choices and trust product information, building trust between consumers and businesses.

How Does the Circular Economy Apply to Holiday Shopping?

A circular economy can be applied to holiday shopping by buying secondhand or refurbished items, choosing experiences or services instead of physical gifts, making DIY or upcycled gifts, and using reusable or sustainable packaging. Retailers can also contribute by reselling returned products, using sustainable packaging, and encouraging reusable bag.

ISO 59020:2024 and ISO 59010:2024: Guidance for Sustainable, Circular Products

ISO 59020:2024 and ISO 59010:2024 provide a framework for companies to create more sustainable, circular products and practices, which ultimately benefits consumers and the environment. ISO 59010:2024, guides retailers on transitioning to a circular model, while ISO 59020:2024 gives them methods to measure the circularity of products, helping to reduce waste and assure a product’s impact is accurately reported. Consumers can use this to support businesses with verifiable circular practices, such as those using recycled materials or offering take-back programs.

This year, let’s choose lasting gifts, support businesses committed to sustainability, and embrace a circular economy that helps protect our planet for future generations.