What is ISO 59004?
ISO 59004 is a part of the ISO 59000 family of standards, specifically designed to foster a shift towards a circular economy. This standard provides comprehensive guidance applicable to any type of organization. It includes defining key terms and concepts, outlining a vision for a circular economy, elucidating core principles, and offering practical guidance for actionable steps towards sustainability. The standard aims to support organizations in contributing to the United Nations Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development by facilitating a transition to a circular use of resources.
Why is ISO 59004 important?
The linear model of the global economy—characterized by extraction, production, use, and disposal—has led to significant environmental challenges, including resource depletion climate change and biodiversity loss. ISO 59004 addresses these issues by advocating for a circular economy model, which emphasizes the sustainable management and renewal of natural resources. By adopting this standard, organizations can:
- Deliver more sustainable and ambitious solutions.
- Improve relationships with stakeholders.
- Engage in more effective and efficient fulfillment of voluntary and legal obligations.
- Contribute to climate change mitigation and adaptation.
- Increase resilience against resource scarcity and other environmental, social, and economic risks.
Adherence to ISO 59004 enables organizations to create and share more value within society while ensuring the quality and resilience of ecosystems, ultimately supporting a sustainable future.
Sign up now
Register to receive additional information on related topics and standards, starting with a Q & A video:
How your data will be used
Please see ISO privacy notice. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Benefits
- Sustainable resource management
- Enhanced stakeholder relationships
- Better compliance with environmental regulations
- Contribution to climate change mitigation
- Increased organizational resilience
General information
-
Status: PublishedPublication date: 2024-05Stage: International Standard published [60.60]
-
Edition: 1Number of pages: 51
-
Technical Committee :ISO/TC 323
- RSS updates
This standard contributes to
- Achieve climate neutrality: GHG emissions / mitigation; Carbon neutral and net zero emissions;
- Integrate climate action in governance and management: Climate corporative governance;
You may also be interested in:
ISO 59010 Circular economy — Measuring and assessing circularity performance
This standard focuses on business-oriented strategies to implement circular economy practices at both organizational and inter-organizational levels. It complements ISO 59004 by offering more detailed guidance on assessing current value creation models, mapping value chains and value networks, and developing strategies for circularity.
ISO 59020 Circular economy — Measuring and assessing circularity performance
This standard sets forth requirements and guidance for organizations to measure and assess their circularity performance within defined economic systems according to a standardized process of data collection and calculation.
Life cycle
This standard contributes to the following Sustainable Development Goals