Advancing circularity metrics: revisiting the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s Material Circularity Indicator
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| Titel: | Advancing circularity metrics: revisiting the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s Material Circularity Indicator |
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| Autoren: | Figueirinhas, Diogo, Vakulenko, Yulia, Pålsson, Henrik, Hellström, Daniel |
| Weitere Verfasser: | Lund University, Other research environments, Centre for Retail and Logistics (REAL), Lunds universitet, Andra forskningsmiljöer, Centrum för handel och logistik (REAL), Originator, Lund University, Faculty of Engineering, LTH, Departments at LTH, Department of Design Sciences, Packaging Logistics, Lunds universitet, Lunds Tekniska Högskola, Institutioner vid LTH, Institutionen för designvetenskaper, Förpackningslogistik, Originator, Lund University, Faculty of Social Sciences, Departments of Administrative, Economic and Social Sciences, Department of Service Studies, Lunds universitet, Samhällsvetenskapliga fakulteten, Samhällsvetenskapliga institutioner och centrumbildningar, Institutionen för tjänstevetenskap, Originator |
| Quelle: | Resources, Conservation and Recycling. 226 |
| Schlagwörter: | Engineering and Technology, Environmental Engineering, Environmental Management, Teknik, Naturresursteknik, Miljöteknik och miljöledning, Other Environmental Engineering, Annan naturresursteknik |
| Beschreibung: | Circularity metrics simplify complex systems, and trade-offs between simplicity, scope, and usability introduce unavoidable limitations. We revisit the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s Material Circularity Indicator (MCI) to identify opportunities for a more accurate, comprehensive, reliable measure of circularity. Although widely used and highly regarded, the MCI exhibits limitations and methodological weaknesses. Specifically, it adopts problematic modeling choices, including a single-cycle view that overlooks nonlinear, multi-cycle retention benefits, an oversimplified 50:50 waste-allocation rule, and insufficient differentiation between internal and external recycling streams. We propose a readily implementable correction to the 50:50 rule and show that its errors can exceed 2000%. In addition, we note broader limitations of the MCI, including insensitivity to energy requirements, infrastructure and equipment burdens, material quality degradation, and its limited alignment with wider economic and environmental impacts. Building on these findings, we outline desiderata to guide the development of more accurate, comprehensive, and reliable circularity indicators. |
| Zugangs-URL: | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2025.108682 |
| Datenbank: | SwePub |
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Nájsť tento článok vo Web of Science | Abstract: | Circularity metrics simplify complex systems, and trade-offs between simplicity, scope, and usability introduce unavoidable limitations. We revisit the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s Material Circularity Indicator (MCI) to identify opportunities for a more accurate, comprehensive, reliable measure of circularity. Although widely used and highly regarded, the MCI exhibits limitations and methodological weaknesses. Specifically, it adopts problematic modeling choices, including a single-cycle view that overlooks nonlinear, multi-cycle retention benefits, an oversimplified 50:50 waste-allocation rule, and insufficient differentiation between internal and external recycling streams. We propose a readily implementable correction to the 50:50 rule and show that its errors can exceed 2000%. In addition, we note broader limitations of the MCI, including insensitivity to energy requirements, infrastructure and equipment burdens, material quality degradation, and its limited alignment with wider economic and environmental impacts. Building on these findings, we outline desiderata to guide the development of more accurate, comprehensive, and reliable circularity indicators. |
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| ISSN: | 09213449 18790658 |
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.resconrec.2025.108682 |