Circular Economy Implementation Based on ISO 14001 within SME Organization: How to Do It Best?
Abstract
:1. Introduction
- (a)
- the added value of raw materials/resources, materials and products is maximized along the value chain, i.e., from designer to consumer;
- (b)
- the amount of generated waste is minimized and the generated waste is managed in accordance with the hierarchy of waste management methods (waste prevention, preparation for re-use, recycling, other recovery methods, disposal)”.
- British BS 8001:2017 Framework for implementing the principles of the circular economy in organizations—guide, and
- French X PX 30-901: 2018 Circular economy—Circular economy project management system—Requirements and guidelines.
2. Materials and Methods
3. Results
3.1. ISO 14001 Requirements as a Contribution to Circular Economy Concept
3.2. Main Obstacles for SME to Achieve the Circular Economy Goals
4. Discussion
5. Conclusions
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Conflicts of Interest
References
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ISO 14001 Requirements | Median | Quartile Average |
---|---|---|
4. Context of the organization | 4 | 4.33 |
4.1. Understanding the organization and its context | 4 | 4.00 |
4.2. Needs and expectations of interested parties | 4 | 4.00 |
4.3. The scope of the CE system | 5 | 4.67 |
4.4. CE management system | 4 | 4.33 |
5. Leadership | 4 | 4.33 |
5.1. Leadership and commitment | 4 | 4.33 |
5.2. The CE policy should contain a commitment to meet the requirements of the CE system | 4 | 4.00 |
5.3. Top management should allocate responsibilities and powers in the field of CE | 4 | 4.00 |
6. Planning | 4 | 4.00 |
6.1. The organization should implement and apply processes related to the determination of risks and opportunities in the same way as in ISO 14001 | 4 | 3.67 |
6.2. Transformation plans and CE goals and planning to achieve them | 4 | 4.00 |
6.3 Indicators of the CE system | 4 | 4.33 |
7. Support | 4 | 4.33 |
7.1. Resources | 4 | 4.00 |
7.2. Competencies | 4 | 4.33 |
7.3. Awareness | 4 | 4.00 |
7.4. Communication | 5 | 4.67 |
7.5. Documented information | 4 | 4.00 |
8. Operational activities | 4 | 4.00 |
8.1. Planning and supervision of operational activities | 4 | 4.00 |
8.2. Preparedness and response to emergencies | 4 | 3.67 |
8.3. Sustainable procurement | 4 | 4.33 |
9. Assessment of the effects of activities | 4 | 4.33 |
9.1. Monitoring, measurement, analysis and evaluation | 4 | 4.33 |
9.2. Internal audits | 4 | 4.33 |
9.3. Review of the management system | 4 | 4.33 |
10. Improvement | 4 | 4.33 |
10.1. Improvement | 4 | 4.33 |
10.2. Non-compliance and corrective actions | 4 | 4.33 |
Main Obstacles | Median | Quartile Average |
---|---|---|
Limiting the use of primary raw materials | 2 | 2.00 |
Increasing the use of ingredients from sustainable primary production (e.g., organic or integrated production) and supporting activities to conserve biodiversity | 2 | 2.33 |
Increasing resource efficiency | 3 | 3.00 |
Reduction of the EU material and consumption footprint | 2 | 2.33 |
Striving for the implementation of climate neutrality and sustainable development (environmental, economic and social) | 2 | 2.00 |
Closing the material and energy loops | 2 | 2.00 |
Improving the well-being of internal and external stakeholders | 3 | 3.33 |
Activities for the rational management of water, including its reuse | 3 | 2.67 |
Recovery of bio-waste and the use of by-products | 3 | 2.67 |
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Kafel, P.; Nowicki, P. Circular Economy Implementation Based on ISO 14001 within SME Organization: How to Do It Best? Sustainability 2023, 15, 496. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15010496
Kafel P, Nowicki P. Circular Economy Implementation Based on ISO 14001 within SME Organization: How to Do It Best? Sustainability. 2023; 15(1):496. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15010496
Chicago/Turabian StyleKafel, Piotr, and Paweł Nowicki. 2023. "Circular Economy Implementation Based on ISO 14001 within SME Organization: How to Do It Best?" Sustainability 15, no. 1: 496. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15010496