The CircularPSP consortium has unveiled a new edition of its Circular Economy (CE) Taxonomy White Paper, reflecting significant updates designed to enhance the framework for identifying CE strategies in cities. This update, dated September 2024, builds on the recent ISO-standard release, strengthening the foundation for organisations and AI systems researching the implementation of CE strategies.
Key Updates in the White Paper
The primary enhancement in this latest version is the comprehensive integration of a new hierarchy for primary sources, terms and strategies, now in Chapter 4 of the White Paper. This hierarchy is designed to streamline how relevant CE strategies are categorized and assessed, ensuring that research on circularity is both comprehensive and structured. With this revision, the CircularPSP consortium aims to ensure cities can more effectively identify key CE strategies aligned with international standards.
Additionally, the number of data sources included have more than doubled, including amongst others standards, procurement clauses and upskilling materials. This expanded repository provides a more robust foundation for analysing and using CE data sources. The updated CE Taxonomy – Data Sources and CE Terminology & Standards, which are publicly available, benefit various projects and contribute to the development of scalable, sustainable solutions across cities.
A Framework to Empower AI and Drive Regulation
As part of the broader CircularPSP project, the updated CE taxonomy is designed to reduce friction in the development and implementation of circular economy strategies. By standardising terminology and data sources, the project aims to support AI-driven solutions and facilitate regulation. The results of this taxonomy are free to use and intended to support the CE-solution.
This taxonomy update is a critical step forward for cities and organisations that are adopting CE principles. By integrating a hierarchy of primary sources and expanding the database, we are ensuring that both AI and human researchers have access to the most relevant and comprehensive information available.
This updated White Paper is part of CircularPSP’s commitment to fostering a more robust and accessible framework for circular economy practices worldwide. Please find out more about the CircularPSP’s CE Taxonomy efforts.