Limitations and opportunities of combining Cradle to Grave and Cradle-to-Cradle approaches to support the circular economy

摘要

Both Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) with its “Cradle to Grave” approach and the Cradle to Cradle®(C2C) design framework based on the eco-effectiveness concept can support the implementation of circular economy. Based on the insights gained in the packaging sector, we perform a Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) analysis of the combined use of LCA and “C2C tools”, i.e. the C2C design protocol and the C2C certified TM product standard, in the implementation of circularity strategies at the product level. Moreover, we discuss the challenges which need to be addressed in order to move from a relative to an absolute environmental sustainability perspective at the company level, and define a framework for implementing circularity strategies at the company level, considering an absolute environonmental sustainability perspective and the business dimension.