The US is represented by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), which makes recommendations to ISO/TC 323 on behalf of the US. ANSI is an apex standards development organization that collates findings from domestic Technical Advisory Groups (TAGs), then appoints delegations to represent US interests at ISO/TCs. Just as ANSI makes recommendations to ISO, two American standards development groups make recommendations to ANSI: the US Tag to ISO/TC 323 and ASTM.
This is a group of US experts that mirrors the ISO/TC 323. At the domestic level, the US TAG works on issues being discussed within the ISO/TC 323 Working Groups 1-5.
ASTM is another standards development organization, separate from ISO. Participation in the organization is open. ASTM is appointed by ANSI to coordinate with the US TAG to ISO/TC 323 WG and report their findings back to ANSI. NIST's Systems Integration Division is offering leadership in ASTM's Subcommittee E60.13 on Sustainable Manufacturing. Learn more about this contribution here.
The following are the working groups for the US TAG of ISO/TC 323 as of October, 2021.
Working Group 1: Principles, Terminology, management system |
Working Group 2: Guidance for implementation |
Working Group 3: Measuring Circularity |
Working Group 4: Specific issues related to Circular Economy |
Working Group 5: Product circularity data sheet (PCDS) |
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Identifying CE-related terms and providing technical definitions. |
Collating business case studies that are implementing CE. Identifying their challenges and successes.
Framework for organizations to develop CE business models. |
Identifying metrics to measure and quantify CE (value-based, LCA-based, etc.). Working to harmonize the most relevant metrics. If possible, will identify/ develop one metric that captures the measure of CE. |
Performance-based approach for CE (Economy of Functionality and Cooperation).
Definitions and concepts to help analyze and evaluate case studies from a triple-bottom line perspective.
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Developing a PCDS, a standardized document that enables the digital exchange of data related to circularity characteristics of products across supply chains. The PCDS aims to facilitate data related to circularity characteristics to support standardization and transparency. |