Luxembourg launches ‘Circularity Dataset Initiative’

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European Circle Economy Stakeholder Platform

Policy case

Impact on increased knowledge and understanding as a result of the case study

Increase Awareness

Contribution to social parity, or impact on social disparity

Equality

Direct and indirect reduction in economic costs

Cost Savings

Efficiency gains on operations or transactions either through cultural or technological shifts

Productivity

Impact on the ease of innovation, and facilitating uptake of innovations

Innovation

Scalability

Extracting resources and processing them to produce materials for use bysociety

Materials and Fuels

Operating networks and software that enable the exchange and broadcasting of information, such as entertainment and internet software, television, cable, satellite or radio broadcasting systems, and cellular, wireless and/or fixed-line telecommunications services

Software and Communications

Providing various support services for businesses and governments, such as research, testing, certification and consulting services, cleaning and maintenance services, security and protection services, legal, accounting and bookkeeping services, information management, data processing, and business process outsourcing services

Research & Commercial Services

Consider opportunities to create greater value and align incentives that build on the interaction between products and services

Rethink the business model

Work together throughout the supply chain, internally within organisations and with the public sector and communities to increase transparency and create joint value

Team up to create joint value

Use digital, online platforms and technologies that provide insights to track and optimise resource use, strengthen connections between supply chain actors, and enable the implementation of circular models



Incorporate digital technology

Industry peers to industry peer collaboration to create joint value and identify synergies

Industry collaboration

Engage and guide customers and consumers to ensure circular use of products

Customer / consumer collaboration

Engage with the government on circular policies and programmes

Government collaboration

Employ technologies to gather and analyse data to provide insights on resource use

Data and insights

Engaging in discussions with government bodies and policymakers to push for regulations that support the circular economy

Advocacy for circular economy policy

Participating in government programmes that support and advance the circular economy

Government programmes

The Value Chain opportunity space covers the activities of businesses across the whole value chain in the creation of a circular city that aids circular consumption. Municipalities create enabling conditions for businesses to offer circular products and services, and can become familiar with the range of solutions available to businesses that will encourage circular consumption and production in their locale. 

VALUE CHAINS

Solidify definitions and create frameworks to support the understanding of the circular economy across contexts and maintain cohesive systems of data sharing, processing and storing.


 Knowledge Management

Data, knowledge & information sharing

Increase standardised data collection

Monitoring & enforcement

 Develop research, structure knowledge, encourage innovation networks and disseminate findings with integrity


Strengthen and advance knowledge

Impacts

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Industries

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A framework of policy instruments that enabled and encourage the transition to the circular economy

Policies

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A framework of policy instruments that enable and stimulate the transition to the circular economy

The principles of a circular economy concern designing out waste, regenerating ecosystems and keeping items in use. Decoupling the economy from material flows—improving the rate of resource productivity faster than the economic growth rate—is also a consistent guide. By evolving with the growing number of applications of circular economy principles, and consolidating these strategies across thematic areas, Circle Economy’s Key Elements Framework (KE) renders the elements of the circular economy salient and serves as a basis to derive contextual strategies and interventions. 


The Framework consists of:
- Core Elements: Activities directly handling product or material flows; and uniquely,
- Enabling Elements: those that remove obstacles for core actors.


Key elements of the circular economy

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Circle Economy's framework of strategies and activities that define the circular economy

Urban Opportunities

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Based on the work of [Bocken et al. (2016)](https://www.researchgate.net/publication/309699661_Product_design_and_business_model_strategies_for_a_circular_economy), the Four Flows Framework serves as a simple framework for managing resource flows in a circular economy by using less (Narrow), using for longer (Slow), using again (Cycle), and using clean, regenerative materials and energy (Regenerate).

These different principles of circular economy can be applied to our socioeconomic metabolism: we can design stocks like buildings, infrastructure, machinery, and vehicles to be rich resource mines for the future, and design manufactured goods and consumables to be cycled and made regenerative. Furthermore, the focus must also centre on getting more value out of fewer materials. Achieving the aims of a circular economy—minimising material use, regenerating the Earth, and preventing material losses—can be done through these four key strategies mentioned above.

Source: Circle Economy. (2023). *[The circularity gap report 2023](https://www.circularity-gap.world/2023)* (p.22). Amsterdam: Circle Economy. 

Four Flows Framework

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 The Circularity Dataset Initiative's aim is to develop an industry standard at European level that provides a regulated framework for circular data on products throughout the whole value chain, from raw materials to finished products, from the use phase to recycling. The project addresses the difficulty for industry to provide reliable data on different circular product properties. The lack of standardized reporting forces manufacturers to send out different data sets in diverse formats to customers and product platforms that evaluate the circularity of the product. In addition, there is a formal opposition between the need for transparency in order to determine the actual circularity and the wish to protect sensitive manufacturing data from the industry. The objectives of Luxembourg's Circularity Dataset Initiative are to save costs for manufacturers and other stakeholders, by increasing the data exchange efficiency across supply chains. By working with key industry actors, the initiative intends to develop a process and an internationally accepted dataset template that can be used by any manufacturer, regardless his position in the supply chain. The data will be verified through an auditing process and shall be used by all relevant stakeholders, including product platforms or databases, to enable circular evaluation of the product.  The initiative does not foresee the creation of a central database. Since its inception, more than 50 companies from 12 different European countries including some industry leaders have joined the Circularity Dataset Initiative. The growing interest for the initiative led the Ministry of Economy to undertake the next level of the project and define the dataset, the underlying process and the auditing scheme in a collaborative process. After a series of webinars, a physical meeting brings together all the actors of the initiative in order to finalize the theoretical proof of concept, developed for two product categories from the areas of construction materials and fast-moving consumer goods. Inspired by Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS), the dataset will take the form of a so-called Product Circularity Data Sheet (PCDS). The PCDS translates relevant circular information into standardized and auditable statements enabling data based evaluations of the product performance in terms of circularity and driving future improvements towards a circular economy. To manage the PCDS process and ensure traceability, new technologies like blockchain or artificial intelligence will be investigated by the working group. At the Clean Tech Forum Europe 2020, held in Luxembourg City from 18th to 20th May 2020 preliminary results of the Circularity Dataset Initiative will be shared. The Circularity Dataset Initiative is a tangible example of Luxembourg’s data-driven innovation strategy put into action and makes Luxembourg a forerunner in data based services for the world. 

The Circularity Dataset Initiative by the Ministry of the Economy of Luxembourg develops an industry standard providing a regulated framework for circular data on products throughout value chains, from raw materials to finished products, from the use phase to re-usage and recycling. 
The project addresses the difficulty for stakeholders to access reliable data on the circular properties of a product. Trade secrets are hindering transparency and reporting standards are lacking, forcing manufacturers to send out different data sets in diverse formats to customers and product platforms. 
The objective is to save costs, increase value and enable circularity by developing a process and an internationally accepted dataset template, and data is verified through an auditing process. 

  ©MECO    Conférence de presse    The Circularity Dataset Initiative launched in 2018 by the Ministry of the Economy of Luxembourg aims at developing an industry standard at European level that provides a regulated framework for circular data on products throughout the whole value chain, from raw materials to finished products, from the use phase to re-usage and recycling. The project addresses the difficulty for industry and consumers to access reliable data on the circular properties of a product. Trade secrets are hindering transparency and reporting standards are lacking, forcing manufacturers to send out different data sets in diverse formats to customers and product platforms. The initiative’s objective is to save costs, increase value and enable circularity by working with stakeholders to develop a process and an internationally accepted dataset template, created by manufacturers when the product is produced, and travelling along the value and supply chain with the product. The data will be verified through an auditing process and shall be used by all relevant stakeholders, including product platforms or databases. The initiative does not foresee the creation of a central database. Since the inception of the Circularity Database Initiative, more than 50 companies from 12 different European countries including some international industry leaders like IKEA, Saint-Gobain, Tarkett or ArcelorMittal as well as national companies like Astron Buildings have joined the initiative. The growing interest for the initiative convinced the Ministry of the Economy to bring the project to the next level in 2019 and to define the dataset, the underlying process and the auditing scheme in a co-creation process. After a series of webinars, a physical meeting on December 9, 2019 will now bring together all the actors of the initiative in order to finalize the theoretical proof of concepts, developed for two product categories from the areas of construction materials and fast moving consumer goods. Inspired by Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS), the dataset will take the form of a so-called Product Circularity Data Sheet (PCDS). The PCDS regroups all relevant circular information in controlled and auditable statements helping the consumer and manufacturer to make educated choices, increase the value of the product and enabling future uses in a circular economy. To manage the PCDS process and ensure traceability, new technologies like block chain or artificial intelligence will be investigated by the working group. Future progress of the initiative can be followed on the newly established website: www.circularitydataset.lu Preliminary results will be shared at the Clean Tech Forum Europe 2020, which will be held in Luxembourg City from 18-20 May, 2020. Luxembourg has successfully evolved into a global hub for information and communication technologies and as a center of excellence in cybersecurity and data protection. Providing excellent connectivity infrastructure and skills, Luxembourg is also among the leaders of the European High Performance Computing project. The Circularity Dataset Initiative is yet another example of Luxembourg’s data-driven innovation strategy put into action and making Luxembourg a forerunner in data based services for the world. Released by the Ministry of the Economy 

Luxembourg

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Official website of the government of Luxembourg

Government of Luxembourg

 Ministry of the Economy of Luxembourg

The Ministry of the Economy of Luxembourg has launched a Circularity Dataset Initiative, which aims to create and provide a regulated framework for circular data about products. This data will ideally follow products throughout value chains, giving insight on raw materials and finished goods all the way through to reuse and recycling stages. Previously, stakeholders experienced significant hurdles in finding reliable data on the circular characteristics of a product—an issue that this initiative aims to address. The programme seeks to improve transparency and reporting standards, moving on from the systems that have essentially forced producers to make a variety of datasets in a range of formats available to customers and product platforms. It is expected that the initiative will result in cost savings, increased value and increased circularity.

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Circle Economy and ICLEI have partnered up to initiate the go to knowledge hub of case studies about the circular economy in cities. The Cities Collection is a repository of case studies that demonstrate the role of cities in the circular transition, and includes policies, business cases and research articles. Cases in the Collection flow into an ecosystem of digital products which support users in transitioning cities to circularity, for example [Ganbatte](https://ganbatte.world/cities/) and <a href="https://circulars.iclei.org/" target="_blank">ICLEI Circulars</a>, both part of the <a href="https://circulars.iclei.org/circle-lab-for-cities/" target = _blank">Circle Lab for Cities Programme.</a>

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Circular Cities

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Impact on the quantity or quality of jobs, and shifts in the labour market

Jobs

Providing public and private education and support services at any level or for any profession, and governmental and public administration services, including judicial, regulatory, and legislative activities, taxation, defence, public order and safety, immigration services, foreign affairs and the administration of government programmes

Education and Government Services

Providing air, water, rail, and land transportation for passengers, such as airlines, airports, ferries, cruise-ships, tour boat operators, marine ports, railways, train stations, tour bus operators, vehicle rental, and taxi companies, travel agencies and related services

Passenger Transport Services

Develop infrastructure to support sustainable lifestyles

Use longer and more often by extending and intensifying use of existing resources, products, spaces and infrastructure

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Reuse

Create and support online platforms and physical spaces for sale, sharing and exchange of spaces, items and materials.

Facilitate second-hand markets, sharing & exchange platforms

The demand for transport is rising globally—but current modes are heavily material- and fossil-fuels-intensive. Emissions from the transport system could grow by 60% by 2050, and transport is the number-one user of oil worldwide. GHG emissions result not only in warming global temperatures, but also in ocean acidification, which has severe consequences for entire ecosystems and further destabilises our climate. The transport system also drives land-use change and biodiversity loss through the development of infrastructure—also releasing harmful pollutants into the ocean. Key circular solutions:

- Embrace and enable car-free lifestyles
- Invest in high-quality public transport
- Rethink unnecessary air travel
- Electrify remaining vehicles

🚌 Mobility Systems

Governments

The Circular City Actions Framework provides urban changemakers with five complementary strategies they can use to start working towards a more circular system. 

The framework is action-based to provide users with concrete strategic directions and showcase the desired outcomes of each strategy. 
The framework consists of five complementary **strategies**, under which **sub-strategies** provide further detail. Finally, each sub-strategy consists of a diversity of tangible **solutions** which are framed in relation to key thematic areas. 

Note: solutions are currently focused on:
- 🍏 **Food systems**
- 🏢  **Built environment**
- 👕📱  **Consumer goods**
- ⚡ **Energy Systems**
- 🚌 **Mobility Systems**
- 💧 **Water Systems**

More thematic areas are coming soon...

'Click through each of the five strategy cards below to explore the framework and circular economy case studies in more depth!'



This framework was developed in collaboration with ICLEI, Metabolic and Ellen MacArthur Foundation with support from the MAVA Foundation. Read more about it [here]( https://circulars.iclei.org/action-framework/). 



Circular City Actions Framework

An action-based framework for local governments working towards circular cities

Thematic Areas

City Stakeholders


 
 



 Bummelbus is a dial-a-bus service occupying long-time unemployed people.

Bummelbus is a combination of a social project and a mobility supply filling gaps in the mobility in some Luxembourg provinces. It is a dial-a-bus service, operating in the entire "Ösling" region with flexible routing to individual destinations. The project is co-financed by the Ministry of Labour, Employment and the Social Economy. Bummelbus is a social project occupying long-time unemployed people. Drivers’ employments are limited on 2 years. The aim is to re-educate them for being drivers and to make them fit for the job market. Initially the aim was to offer a mobility service, especially for elderly people and for those deprived of public transport. Today the offer is available for everybody. Ticket fare varies with the distance from 2 € in a radius of 10 km to 7 € in a radius of 35 km for adults. The service expand from a few municipalities in the beginning to the whole north part of Luxemburg today. Currently it covers the demand of 82 000 inhabitants in 255 villages. Operating times are Mo-Fr from 6:30 a.m. to 9:15 p.m. and on Saturday from 6:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m., whereas the call centre is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
People have to book their trip the day before. 
70% funded by the State because it provides training and occupation as drivers for unemployed people. The rest is covered by funding from the part of the municipalities and the income from tickets sold.
 
The project covers 40 municipalities of the north part of the country with 82 000 inhabitants. Children are an important user group, the minimum age for passengers is 4 years; The vehicle park of the project at present consists of 47 mini-buses and vans. In 2016 370 reintegrated employees and the system counted 140000 clients.
 
The system Bummelbus shows two beneficial components: On the one hand, it is a social initiative, which occupies long-time unemployed people and offers training to make them fit for the job market. On the other hand it is a mobility offer in a rural area with two targets: offering people with reduced mobility a means of transport in everyday life and providing an alternative to individual transport. The effects such a system can have are highly beneficial for a region, which show the potential of transfer.


Please login to see the expert opinion of this good practice.


Tags: Urban

  

 


In Luxembourg, Bummelbus is a demand-responsive transit service that is funded by the Ministry of Labour to provide professional driver training to long-term unemployed people. The service helps ensure mobility in sparsely populated areas, and is mostly used by children to get to afterschool activities.

Meeting mobility and employment needs in Luxembourg with Bummelbus

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Circular food systems entail that the food is produced regeneratively and, where appropriate, locally. Food and packaging waste are designed out entirely, while healthy, low-impact diets are promoted and easy to access. 

[Circle Economy](https://www.circle-economy.com/) is a not-for-profit organisation working to accelerate the circular transition. Through the *Circularity Gap Reporting Initiative*, our mission is to deliver an annual global Circularity Metric that measures the state of the world economy and identifies key levers to transition to global circularity. With nature as our guide, we work alongside cross-sector stakeholders from academia, businesses, NGOs and governments to provide a powerful combination of practical and scalable interventions that transform circular opportunities into realities. 

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Circular Food

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Limes and lemons - Photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash

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Starter Kit collection

Business case

Impact on the availability of resources as well as their effect on living organisms, ecosystems, and components of the environment.

Ecological Impact

Impacts on the social fabric of the community and well-being of the individuals and families.

Social Impact

Impacts on the financial condition of a company, as well as the the economicconditions of its stakeholders and on economic systems at local, national, andglobal levels.

Economic Impact

Minimise waste through diversion: Instead of sending waste to landfill, it is redirected into other industrial processes for handling, treatment, recycling, recovery, or reuse in various forms. 

Minimise waste through design: At the outset of a process of project, plan and design such that there is zero waste or minimal waste during production, use, and at end of life. 

Minimise Waste (SDG12)

Producing agricultural products and processing them into food and beverageproducts for consumption

Agri/Food

Societal Services

Collecting waste from households and businesses by means of refuse bins, wheeled bins, containers, etc., and providing treatment, incineration, materials recovery and reclamation, and disposal of hazardous and non-hazardous waste

Waste Management

Processing and producing food and beverages for consumption

Food and Beverage

Takeback and return of products from customers after end-of-use

Takeback programmes

'Mobilise' sets the direction of and builds momentum towards long-term change, while also determining how this direction is determined and governed.

Mobilise

Govern the Transition

Institutional design to enable circularity

Maintain and repair city-owned spaces and infrastructure to increase longevity, and support opportunities for residents to do the same for privately owned items and property

Support reuse, repair, remanufacturing, maintenance of existing resources, products, spaces & infrastructure

Single-use packaging is very common in food services and retail, and its expanded use in recent years has led to multiple health, sanitation and environmental problems—polluting public spaces, waterways and surrounding ecosystems. 

However, this is a relatively new phenomenon, and there is a lot that can be done to shift away from non-biodegradable materials and encourage a return to reusable containers. Reusable containers can be used, washed and reused multiple times to reduce waste generation.

Commonly, the implementation of reusable food and drink containers relies on a strong collaboration with businesses to adopt and facilitate such schemes. Local governments can play an important role in promoting and supporting these behaviours through, for example, raising awareness about alternatives through campaigns and promoting participating businesses. Experimental zones can also be used to test and encourage the use of reusable containers. Local governments can, in partnership with regional and national governments, regulate the use of certain single-use materials and packaging in the city.

However, caution is warranted: with their often higher per-unit impact when compared with single-use alternatives, implementing reusable container schemes must be balanced with behaviour change away from a throw-away mindset to ensure that these containers are used multiple times, otherwise the expected environmental impact may not be realised. 


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👕📱 Reusable products and containers

 «Null Offall Lëtzebuerg»: la stratégie nationale zéro déchets En date du 6 mai 2019, la ministre de l’Environnement, du Climat et du Développement durable, Carole Dieschbourg, a fait un état des lieux de la situation actuelle en matière de gestion des déchets résiduels ménagers et assimilés, des mesures dans le domaine de la réduction du […] Read more 

ECOBOX

ECOBOX, an action of the Ministry of the Environment, Climate and Sustainable Development of Luxembourg, is tackling single-use packages challenges based on a deposit-return scheme for multiple purposes developed for transporting meals.