Zero Waste Goals and Circular Economy Targets

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Zero Waste in the Circular Economy

Zero waste is a philosophy and design principle aimed at eliminating waste through the redesign of product lifecycles so that all materials are reused, repaired, recycled, or composted. In the context of the ESPR and Digital Product Passports, zero waste goals translate into concrete design requirements and measurable targets.

The EU's Circular Economy Action Plan sets ambitious targets for waste reduction, recycling rates, and resource efficiency. DPPs are a key tool for achieving these targets by making product materials and end-of-life options transparent.

ESPR Circular Economy Requirements

The ESPR promotes circular economy objectives through several mechanisms:

• Durability requirements: products must last longer, reducing replacement waste
• Reparability: products must be designed for repair, extending useful life
• Recyclability: materials must be recoverable at end of life
• Recycled content: products must incorporate recycled materials
• Substance restrictions: hazardous materials that impede recycling are limited

Digital Product Passports communicate these circular economy attributes to consumers, recyclers, and regulators, enabling informed decisions at every lifecycle stage.

Measuring Progress Toward Zero Waste

DPP data enables measurement of progress toward zero waste targets. By tracking material composition, recyclability rates, and actual recycling outcomes, stakeholders can assess whether products are genuinely contributing to waste reduction or merely claiming to.

Key metrics include the percentage of materials that can be recycled, the percentage actually recycled in practice, material losses during recycling, and the proportion of the product that ends up as unrecoverable waste.

Designing for Zero Waste

Use DPP requirements as a framework for designing products that minimise waste. Select materials that are widely recyclable, design for disassembly so components can be separated for recycling, and minimise the number of different material types to simplify end-of-life processing.

MyProductPassport helps you document and communicate your product's circular economy credentials, from recyclability data to end-of-life instructions, supporting your journey toward zero waste goals.