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Approach/solution: Used materials can be tested in a laboratory to assess their suitability for meltdown and recasting. 🛠 Applicable CASCO tool: The ISO/IEC 17025 standard enables laboratories to demonstrate that they are technically competent, impartial and consistently able to produce valid and reliable results." } },{ "@type": "Question", "name": "How do you ensure that assemblies of new and reused components work as intended?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "→ Approach/solution: Inspection with professional judgement can be used to examine whether the type of assembly or individual assemblies are still fit for purpose. 🛠 Applicable CASCO tool: Fulfilling the requirements of standard ISO/IEC 17020 ensures that inspection bodies consistently carry out competent and impartial inspections." } },{ "@type": "Question", "name": "How do you ensure claims of recyclability or repairability can be trusted?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "→ Approach/solution: 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The environmental and social consequences of unsustainable growth strategies are becoming increasingly obvious. A circular economy offers a way to <strong>counteract the climate crisis, strengthen our adaptive capacity </strong>and <strong>make society more sustainable and resilient</strong>. Standards and conformity assessment are part of the solution.</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="row row-middle justify-content-center"> <div class="col-md-9 col-lg-7 col-xl-6"> <h2 class="h3">Table of contents</h2> <div id="toc">Enable Javascript to view table</div> <script type="module" defer> if (document.querySelector("#toc") != null) { // Create a list and update its class var toc = document.createElement("ul"); toc.classList.add("toc-list"); // Loop on headings let idx = 0; document.querySelectorAll('h2:not([class])').forEach(heading => { let title = heading.textContent; idx = idx + 1; heading.id = "toc" + idx; let href = "#toc" + idx; let tocElement = document.createElement("li"); tocElement.classList.add("toc-item"); let tocElementAnchor = document.createElement("a"); tocElementAnchor.setAttribute('href', href); tocElementAnchor.setAttribute('title', title); tocElementAnchor.classList.add("page-scroll"); tocElementAnchor.textContent = title; // Append the element to .container tocElement.appendChild(tocElementAnchor); toc.appendChild(tocElement); }); document.getElementById("toc").textContent = ''; document.querySelector("#toc"). appendChild(toc); } </script> </div> </div> <div class="row justify-content-center"> <style> @media only screen and (min-width: 992px) { #newsBody figure.width-100pct.landscape, #newsBody .emphasis { margin-inline: -10%; width: 120%; max-width: calc(66ch + 20%); } } #newsBody .emphasis { margin-block: 3.75rem; } #newsBody .emphasis > * { text-align: center; margin-inline: auto; max-width: 55ch; } </style> <div class="col-md-9 col-lg-7 col-xl-6" id="newsBody"> <p>The circular economy <strong>reduces</strong> the need for resources extracted from nature because it ensures that products are <strong>reused </strong>as many times as possible and materials are <strong>recycled</strong>. Resources and energy no longer go to waste as the unwanted by-products from one economic process are fed back into another in a never-ending flow.</p> <p>When products are passed on from one person to another, and used materials re-enter the value chain, consumers and companies need <strong>reassurance</strong>: Are the goods still safe and undamaged? Are they designed to last?</p> <p>That’s where ISO standards and tools to assess conformity come in. While sustainability standards define<strong> requirements</strong> in line with circular economy principles, such as durability, reusability, upgradability, or repairability, conformity assessment offers tools to demonstrate that these requirements are met.</p> <p>Conformity assessment standards, the so-called CASCO Toolbox, provide internationally recognized tools to ensure <strong>competent</strong>, <strong>consistent</strong> and <strong>reliable</strong> conformity assessment.</p><h2 id="section1">Tools for a changing world economy: standards and conformity assessment</h2> <p>Few could have predicted how much the world has changed in just a few decades. As the 21<sup>st</sup> century unfolds, we are dealing with a complex brew of social, environmental, market and technological trends.</p> <p>Faced with ongoing uncertainty, how can businesses and governments adapt and grow? Standards and conformity assessment deliver part of the solution in solving today’s most daunting challenges.</p><div class="well clearfix"> <p>Almost all sectors and industries are threatened by the effects of climate change, either directly or indirectly. Approved in September 2021, the <a href="/ClimateAction/ISO-climate-commitment" title="The London Declaration - ISO's climate commitment">London Declaration</a> defines ISO’s commitment to climate action. The ISO portfolio of standards helps organizations assess climate change impacts and put plans in place for effective action.</p> <p>A circular economy lies at the heart of climate action. Today’s unsustainable production and consumption patterns are known to cause <strong>environmental degradation</strong>, <strong>resource depletion</strong> and waste, while accentuating the <strong>inequalities across countries</strong>. There is an urgent need to move towards a more circular model that redefines the economy around principles of <strong>designing out waste and pollution</strong>, and <strong>keeping products and materials in use</strong> for as long as possible.</p></div><p>Sustainability standards, with a specific focus on a circular economy, are being developed at the country and global levels by a number of organizations including ISO, through its technical committee <a href="/committee/7203984.html" title="ISO/TC 323 - Circular economy">ISO/TC 323</a>.</p> <p>Efforts are underway for <strong>eco-design standards </strong>which consider the<strong> sustainable consumption of materials, energy and other resources at all stages of the product development process</strong>. Providing a comprehensive set of principles, these will look at environmental factors such as the <strong>consumption of resources</strong> and energy, <strong>emissions </strong>to air, water and soil, as well as the <strong>pollution</strong> resulting from noise, vibration, radiation, electromagnetic fields and other physical effects.</p> <p>Other areas of focus include<strong> waste materials produced during the production process </strong>and <strong>recycling</strong> (i.e. reuse and recovery of materials and/or of energy). Also in development is a series of design requirements for <strong>product</strong> <strong>durability</strong>, <strong>reusability</strong>,<strong> upgradability</strong> and <strong>repairability</strong>, and for the <strong>recyclability </strong>of devices such as electronic displays, commercial refrigeration appliances, washing machines and vacuum cleaners.</p> <p>While standards exist to cover different aspects of a circular economy, conformity assessment offers tools to demonstrate that these specifications are met, and thereby provides <strong>trust and confidence</strong> to the market, which is needed more than ever.</p><div class="emphasis emphasis-gray clearfix"> <div class="" id="subscribe"> <h4>Sign up for email updates</h4> <p>Register to receive resources and updates on related topics and standards.</p><form method="POST" action="https://iso272.activehosted.com/proc.php" id="_form_50_" class="_form _form_50 _inline-form _dark" novalidate> <input type="hidden" name="u" value="50" /> <input type="hidden" name="f" value="50" /> <input type="hidden" name="s" /> <input type="hidden" name="c" value="0" /> <input type="hidden" name="m" value="0" /> <input type="hidden" name="act" value="sub" /> <input type="hidden" name="v" value="2" /> <input type="hidden" name="or" value="9417b9cd52ff6c742e176a370ed5442a" /> <style> ._error { width: 100%; padding: 0.5em 1.25em; text-align: left; } .grecaptcha-badge { visibility: hidden; } </style> <div class="_form-content"> <div class="input-group input-group-round mb-3"> <input type="text" id="email" class="form-control" name="email" placeholder="Email" aria-label="Email" aria-describedby="_form_50_submit" required/> <input type="hidden" id="recaptchaResponse" name="recaptcha_response"> <button id="_form_50_submit" class="_submit btn btn-primary" type="submit" class="g-recaptcha" data-sitekey="6Lfvyx8qAAAAAHOXkwbvVobjfLbVzBEnEVRuLtNA" data-callback='onSubmit' data-action='submit'> Subscribe</button> </div> </div> <div class="_form-thank-you mb-3" style="display:none;"> <p><strong>Almost done! </strong><br /> You are only one step away from joining the ISO subscriber list. 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true : no_error = false; } } if (!no_error && e) { e.preventDefault(); } resize_tooltips(); return no_error; }; addEvent(window, 'resize', resize_tooltips); addEvent(window, 'scroll', resize_tooltips); var hidePhoneInputError = function(inputId) { var errorMessage = document.getElementById("error-msg-" + inputId); var input = document.getElementById(inputId); errorMessage.classList.remove("phone-error"); errorMessage.classList.add("phone-error-hidden"); input.classList.remove("phone-input-error"); }; var initializePhoneInput = function(input, defaultCountry) { return window.intlTelInput(input, { utilsScript: "https://unpkg.com/intl-tel-input@17.0.18/build/js/utils.js", autoHideDialCode: false, separateDialCode: true, initialCountry: defaultCountry, preferredCountries: [] }); } var setPhoneInputEventListeners = function(inputId, input, iti) { input.addEventListener('blur', function() { var errorMessage = document.getElementById("error-msg-" + inputId); if (input.value.trim()) { if (iti.isValidNumber()) { iti.setNumber(iti.getNumber()); if (errorMessage.classList.contains("phone-error")){ hidePhoneInputError(inputId); } } else { showPhoneInputError(inputId) } } else { if (errorMessage.classList.contains("phone-error")){ hidePhoneInputError(inputId); } } }); input.addEventListener("countrychange", function() { iti.setNumber(''); }); input.addEventListener("keydown", function(e) { var charCode = (e.which) ? e.which : e.keyCode; if (charCode > 31 && (charCode < 48 || charCode > 57) && charCode !== 8) { e.preventDefault(); } }); }; var showPhoneInputError = function(inputId) { var errorMessage = document.getElementById("error-msg-" + inputId); var input = document.getElementById(inputId); errorMessage.classList.add("phone-error"); errorMessage.classList.remove("phone-error-hidden"); input.classList.add("phone-input-error"); }; var form_submit = function(e) { e.preventDefault(); if (validate_form()) { // use this trick to get the submit button & disable it using plain javascript document.querySelector('#_form_50_submit').disabled = true; var _form_serialize_50 = function(form){if(!form||form.nodeName!=="FORM"){return }var i,j,q=[];for(i=0;i<form.elements.length;i++){if(form.elements[i].name===""){continue}switch(form.elements[i].nodeName){case"INPUT":switch(form.elements[i].type){case"tel":q.push(form.elements[i].name+"="+encodeURIComponent(form.elements[i].previousSibling.querySelector('div.iti__selected-dial-code').innerText)+encodeURIComponent(" ")+encodeURIComponent(form.elements[i].value));break;case"text":case"number":case"date":case"time":case"hidden":case"password":case"button":case"reset":case"submit":q.push(form.elements[i].name+"="+encodeURIComponent(form.elements[i].value));break;case"checkbox":case"radio":if(form.elements[i].checked){q.push(form.elements[i].name+"="+encodeURIComponent(form.elements[i].value))}break;case"file":break}break;case"TEXTAREA":q.push(form.elements[i].name+"="+encodeURIComponent(form.elements[i].value));break;case"SELECT":switch(form.elements[i].type){case"select-one":q.push(form.elements[i].name+"="+encodeURIComponent(form.elements[i].value));break;case"select-multiple":for(j=0;j<form.elements[i].options.length;j++){if(form.elements[i].options[j].selected){q.push(form.elements[i].name+"="+encodeURIComponent(form.elements[i].options[j].value))}}break}break;case"BUTTON":switch(form.elements[i].type){case"reset":case"submit":case"button":q.push(form.elements[i].name+"="+encodeURIComponent(form.elements[i].value));break}break}}return q.join("&")}; let serialized_50 = _form_serialize_50(document.getElementById('_form_50_')).replace(/%0A/g, '\\n'); var err = form_to_submit.querySelector('._form_error'); err ? err.parentNode.removeChild(err) : false; // We don't check the Google reCaptcha if projectId is null // Site properties: ProjectId is defined => we check the captcha before sending the form _check_reCaptcha_50(); } return false; }; addEvent(form_to_submit, 'submit', form_submit); })(); </script> <details class="text-xs"><summary style="color:inherit">How your data will be used</summary> <p class="pt-2">Please see <a href="/privacy.html" title="privacy-and-copyright">ISO privacy notice</a>. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google <a href="https://policies.google.com/privacy">Privacy Policy</a> and <a href="https://policies.google.com/terms">Terms of Service</a> apply.</p> </details></div></div><h2 id="section2">What is the circular economy?</h2> <p>With its promise to transform the current economic paradigm, the circular economy is emerging as the new approach for achieving <strong>sustainable economic development</strong>. This calls for <strong>a radical shift in production and consumption patterns</strong>, supported by a raft of <strong>new government policies</strong>.</p> <p>Circularity consists of <strong>measures for creating shorter closed-loop materials and energy cycles </strong>that:</p> <ul> <li><strong>Minimize pollution and waste</strong></li> <li><strong>Extend product life cycles </strong></li> <li><strong>Enable the broad sharing of natural assets</strong></li> </ul> <p>A circular process must encompass both tangible and intangible requirements, including sustainability of the global value chain based on aspects such as trade, economic factors, corporate responsibility, labour, health and human rights. Conformity assessment gives confidence on specific aspects such as safety, efficiency, repairability, durability, upgradability, recyclability and reusability – all of which contribute to the robustness of the circle.</p> <h2 id="section3">Conformity assessment and the CASCO Toolbox</h2> <p>Conformity assessment shows whether a product, service, process, system, or sometimes a claim or person, meets the relevant requirements. <strong>Defined rules and procedures</strong> are applied to demonstrate the fulfilment of such <strong>requirements</strong> which are stated in standards, regulations, contracts, programmes, or other normative documents.</p><blockquote class="blockquote "> <p>Conformity assessment provides assurance that specified needs or expectations are being met.</p> </blockquote><p>Conformity assessment activities are performed by <strong>conformity assessment bodies (CABs)</strong>. They are usually categorized according to their activities, scope and independence:</p> <ul> <li><strong>“Third-party” activity:</strong> a conformity assessment activity performed by a body that is <em>independent of the provider</em> of the assessed object and has <em>no user interest</em> in the object</li> <li><strong>“First-party” activity:</strong> a conformity assessment activity performed by the <em>provider</em></li> <li><strong>“Second-party” activity:</strong> a conformity assessment activity performed by <em>entities with user interests</em></li> </ul> <p>To <strong>ensure a CAB is competent and can be trusted</strong>, these entities rely on standards that can be found in the <a href="/contents/data/committee/05/49/54998.html#section-activity" title="Standards published by CASCO, the ISO committee on conformity assessment"><strong>ISO/IEC 17000 series of standards</strong></a> for conformity assessment, the so-called CASCO Toolbox. Some of these standards are explained in more details below. They contain <strong>requirements for competence, impartiality and consistent operation</strong>, which serve as a basis for recognizing the reliability of CABs.</p> <h3>Types of conformity assessment activities</h3> <p>Many different conformity assessment activities can provide reassurance to economic actors as we transition towards a circular economy. The most relevant are:</p> <h4>Testing</h4> <p>Testing is the process used to determine the characteristics of a test item or sample (the object of conformity assessment) according to a procedure. Requirements for testing and calibration laboratories are specified in the <a href="/standard/66912.html" title="ISO/IEC 17025:2017 - General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories">ISO/IEC 17025 standard</a> which enables <strong>laboratories</strong> to demonstrate that they are <strong>technically competent</strong>, <strong>impartial</strong> and <strong>consistently able to produce valid and reliable results</strong>.</p> <h4>Inspection</h4> <p>Inspection is the <strong>examination of an item</strong> (the object of conformity assessment) and determination of its conformity with <strong>detailed requirements </strong>or, on the basis of <strong>professional judgement</strong>, with general requirements. Requirements for inspection bodies are specified in the <a href="/standard/52994.html">ISO/IEC 17020 standard</a>.</p> <h4>Validation</h4> <p>Validation provides confirmation that the information declared as “<strong>claim</strong>” (the object of conformity assessment) is <strong>plausible with regard to the intended future use</strong>. Requirements for validation bodies are specified in the <a href="/standard/29352.html" title="ISO/IEC 17029:2019 - Conformity assessment — General principles and requirements for validation and verification bodies">ISO/IEC 17029 standard</a>.</p> <h4>Verification</h4> <p>Verification provides confirmation that the information declared as “<strong>claim</strong>” (the object of conformity assessment) is <strong>truthfully stated</strong>. Requirements for verification bodies are specified in the <a href="/standard/29352.html">ISO/IEC 17029 standard</a>.</p> <h4>Certification</h4> <p>Certification provides an <strong>independent (third-party) attestation of conformity</strong>. <strong>Requirements for certification bodies</strong> are specified in the standards <a href="/standard/61651.html" title="ISO/IEC 17021-1:2015 - Conformity assessment — Requirements for bodies providing audit and certification of management systems — Part 1: Requirements">ISO/IEC 17021-1</a> (for <strong>management systems</strong> as objects of conformity assessment), <a href="/standard/46568.html" title="ISO/IEC 17065:2012 - Conformity assessment — Requirements for bodies certifying products, processes and services">ISO/IEC 17065</a> (for <strong>products, processes and services</strong> as objects of conformity assessment) and <a href="/standard/52993.html" title="ISO/IEC 17024:2012 - Conformity assessment — General requirements for bodies operating certification of persons">ISO/IEC 17024</a> (for<strong> persons</strong> as objects of conformity assessment).</p> <p>In addition to these standards, the CASCO Toolbox contains <strong>requirements for accreditation bodies</strong> <a href="/standard/67198.html" title="ISO/IEC 17011:2017 - Conformity assessment — Requirements for accreditation bodies accrediting conformity assessment bodies">(ISO/IEC 17011)</a>, <strong>general specifications of a supplier’s declarations</strong> <a href="/standard/35516.html" title="ISO/IEC 17050-2:2004 - Conformity assessment — Supplier's declaration of conformity — Part 2: Supporting documentation">(ISO/IEC 17050)</a> and <strong>marks of conformity</strong> <a href="/standard/78283.html" title="ISO/IEC 17030:2021 - Conformity assessment — General requirements for third-party marks of conformity">(ISO/IEC 17030)</a>.</p> <h3>Conformity assessment systems</h3> <p>Based on the relevant CASCO standard, conformity assessment bodies can recognize each other as competent – whether they are public entities (for example a governmental inspection authority) or private ones for example a certification body).</p> <p>Using the standards from the ISO/IEC 17000 series ensures <strong>harmonized conformity assessment practices</strong> across all conformity assessment bodies (CABs), allowing statements of conformity to be issued that are <strong>comparable worldwide</strong>.</p> <p><strong>Multilateral arrangements</strong> made on this basis ensure mutual recognition among CABs as well as the <strong>mutual acceptance of assessment results and conformity statements</strong>.</p> <h2 id="section4">How conformity assessment activities (e.g. testing, inspection, validation, verification, certification) build trust in the circular economy</h2> <p>Conformity assessment provides <strong>assurance that specified needs or expectations are being met</strong>. Regardless of whether it is a simple check, an extensive investigation, or a complex professional judgement, the CASCO Toolbox supports common approaches to conformity assessment.</p> <p>Performed in the context of the circular economy, conformity assessment <strong>adds substance and credibility</strong> to the statement that products, processes, services, systems or claims meet specific requirements, thereby providing <strong>confidence in aspects such as recyclability, reusability, repairability, upgradability</strong>, etc.</p> <h3>Trustworthy technical cycles</h3> <p>Consumers and companies will only invest in products that are shared with others or made from recycled materials if they can trust that the products are safe, reliable and fit for purpose. Similarly, when goods that are built to last are brought to market at a higher price than competitors’ merchandise, their promise of longevity needs to be credible. This is where conformity assessment can provide solutions. The infographic below illustrates how conformity assessment tools apply throughout the technical cycle, providing trust and confidence to the market.</p><figure class="width-100pct inCol8 fig-srcset landscape "> <div class="img-container "> <a href="/files/live/sites/isoorg/files/news/insights/circular-economy/CASCO_circular-economy-tech.svg" ><img loading="lazy" src="/files/live/sites/isoorg/files/news/insights/circular-economy/CASCO_circular-economy-tech.svg" alt="Consumers and companies will only invest in products that are shared with others or made from recycled materials if they can trust that the products are safe, reliable and fit for purpose. Similarly, when goods that are built to last are brought to market at a higher price than competitors’ merchandise, their promise of longevity needs to be credible. This is where conformity assessment can provide solutions. This infographic illustrates how conformity assessment tools apply throughout the technical cycle, providing trust and confidence to the market. " class="hover-zoom " /> </a></div> <figcaption><p>Conformity assessment activities along the value chain help close the loops in technical cycles.</p> </figcaption></figure><h3>Safe and efficient resource recovery in biological cycles</h3> <p>From the field to the plate, from the woods to the paper shredder, there are many stages along the food and fibre value chains where waste can be avoided. To get the most out of our precious natural resources, these need to circulate among the different economic actors. Farmers, manufacturers, retailers and consumers need to know exactly what they are buying in terms of food, fabrics, fodder, fuel and other natural raw materials. The infographic below illustrates how conformity assessment tools apply throughout the biological cycle, providing transparency and assurance.</p><figure class="width-100pct inCol8 fig-srcset landscape "> <div class="img-container "> <a href="/files/live/sites/isoorg/files/news/insights/circular-economy/CASCO_c-economy-bio-cycles.svg" ><img loading="lazy" src="/files/live/sites/isoorg/files/news/insights/circular-economy/CASCO_c-economy-bio-cycles.svg" alt="From the field to the plate, from the woods to the paper shredder, there are many stages along the food and fibre value chains where waste can be avoided. To get the most out of our precious natural resources, these need to circulate among the different economic actors. Farmers, manufacturers, retailers and consumers need to know exactly what they are buying in terms of food, fabrics, fodder, fuel and other natural raw materials. This infographic illustrates how conformity assessment tools apply throughout the biological cycle, providing transparency and assurance. " class="hover-zoom " /> </a></div> <figcaption><p>Conformity assessment activities help maximize the recovery of nutrients and energy within biological cycles.</p> </figcaption></figure><p>To better understand the various processes described in these infographics and how conformity assessment activities can support the circular economy, please have a look at the practical examples below.</p><h2>Challenges and solutions – practical examples</h2> <p>CASCO tools provide answers to a number of questions market participants will be asking themselves when they embark on the road towards a more circular economy. The examples listed below will help you better understand the infographics above, illustrating the two types of circular resource flows.</p><div class="collapse-link"> <button class="accordion-button h6 collapsed" data-bs-toggle="collapse" data-bs-target="#accordion-59875371-db33-416e-adfa-9269d486ec86" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="accordion-59875371-db33-416e-adfa-9269d486ec86">List of sample questions (please click to unfold)</button> </div> <div class="collapse ms-4" id="accordion-59875371-db33-416e-adfa-9269d486ec86"> <div class="accordion faqs" id="id-59875371-db33-416e-adfa-9269d486ec86"> <div class="accordion-item"> <h4 class="accordion-header" id="heading-28e0385d-0252-4109-8792-95ddfb268481"><button class="accordion-button " type="button" data-bs-toggle="collapse" data-bs-target="#id-28e0385d-0252-4109-8792-95ddfb268481" aria-expanded="true" aria-controls="id-28e0385d-0252-4109-8792-95ddfb268481"> How do you ensure that an item or its parts can be recycled?</button> </h4><div id="id-28e0385d-0252-4109-8792-95ddfb268481" class="accordion-collapse collapse show" aria-labelledby="heading-28e0385d-0252-4109-8792-95ddfb268481" data-bs-parent="#id-59875371-db33-416e-adfa-9269d486ec86"> <div class="accordion-body"> <p>→ <em>Approach/solution: </em><strong>Used materials</strong> can be <strong>tested in a laboratory</strong> to assess their suitability for meltdown and recasting.</p> <p><strong><em>🛠 </em></strong><em>Applicable CASCO tool: </em>The <a href="/standard/66912.html" title="ISO/IEC 17025:2017 - General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories">ISO/IEC 17025</a> standard enables laboratories to demonstrate that they are technically competent, impartial and consistently able to produce valid and reliable results.</p> </div> </div> </div><div class="accordion-item"> <h4 class="accordion-header" id="heading-03951389-6604-4043-a689-385ec25d6f82"><button class="accordion-button collapsed" type="button" data-bs-toggle="collapse" data-bs-target="#id-03951389-6604-4043-a689-385ec25d6f82" aria-expanded="true" aria-controls="id-03951389-6604-4043-a689-385ec25d6f82"> How do you ensure that assemblies of new and reused components work as intended?</button> </h4><div id="id-03951389-6604-4043-a689-385ec25d6f82" class="accordion-collapse collapse " aria-labelledby="heading-03951389-6604-4043-a689-385ec25d6f82" data-bs-parent="#id-59875371-db33-416e-adfa-9269d486ec86"> <div class="accordion-body"> <p>→ <em>Approach/solution: </em><strong>Inspection</strong> with professional judgement can be used to examine whether the <strong>type of assembly or individual assemblies</strong> are still <strong>fit for purpose</strong>.</p> <p><strong><em>🛠 </em></strong><em>Applicable CASCO tool: </em>Fulfilling the requirements of standard <a href="/standard/52994.html" title="ISO/IEC 17020:2012 - Conformity assessment — Requirements for the operation of various types of bodies performing inspection">ISO/IEC 17020</a> ensures that inspection bodies consistently carry out competent and impartial inspections.</p></div> </div> </div><div class="accordion-item"> <h4 class="accordion-header" id="heading-967fa59b-0b19-4a62-b1d3-2d18af3c74fa"><button class="accordion-button collapsed" type="button" data-bs-toggle="collapse" data-bs-target="#id-967fa59b-0b19-4a62-b1d3-2d18af3c74fa" aria-expanded="true" aria-controls="id-967fa59b-0b19-4a62-b1d3-2d18af3c74fa"> How do you ensure claims of recyclability or repairability can be trusted?</button> </h4><div id="id-967fa59b-0b19-4a62-b1d3-2d18af3c74fa" class="accordion-collapse collapse " aria-labelledby="heading-967fa59b-0b19-4a62-b1d3-2d18af3c74fa" data-bs-parent="#id-59875371-db33-416e-adfa-9269d486ec86"> <div class="accordion-body"> <p>→ <em>Approach/solution: </em>The <strong>plausibility</strong> of such claims can be confirmed in a <strong>validation </strong>process.</p> <p><strong><em>🛠 </em></strong><em>Applicable CASCO tool: </em>The <a href="/standard/29352.html" title="ISO/IEC 17029:2019 - Conformity assessment — General principles and requirements for validation and verification bodies">ISO/IEC 17029</a> standard ensures consistent operation and impartiality of validation/verification bodies, which is understood to be a confirmation of reliability of information declared in claims.</p> </div> </div> </div><div class="accordion-item"> <h4 class="accordion-header" id="heading-b4ea033b-d900-434c-a4a8-02053be6a6b0"><button class="accordion-button collapsed" type="button" data-bs-toggle="collapse" data-bs-target="#id-b4ea033b-d900-434c-a4a8-02053be6a6b0" aria-expanded="true" aria-controls="id-b4ea033b-d900-434c-a4a8-02053be6a6b0"> How do you ensure that declarations of recycled material components are correct?</button> </h4><div id="id-b4ea033b-d900-434c-a4a8-02053be6a6b0" class="accordion-collapse collapse " aria-labelledby="heading-b4ea033b-d900-434c-a4a8-02053be6a6b0" data-bs-parent="#id-59875371-db33-416e-adfa-9269d486ec86"> <div class="accordion-body"> <p>→ <em>Approach/solution: </em>The <strong>truthfulness</strong> of the information contained in a declaration can be confirmed in a <strong>verification </strong>process.</p> <p><strong><em>🛠 </em></strong><em>Applicable CASCO tool: </em>Standard <a href="/standard/29352.html" title="ISO/IEC 17029:2019 - Conformity assessment — General principles and requirements for validation and verification bodies">ISO/IEC 17029</a> as it also applies to verification bodies, ensuring consistent operation and impartiality.</p> </div> </div> </div><div class="accordion-item"> <h4 class="accordion-header" id="heading-870f3669-5e89-42b4-86ed-4eff5c62fcf5"><button class="accordion-button collapsed" type="button" data-bs-toggle="collapse" data-bs-target="#id-870f3669-5e89-42b4-86ed-4eff5c62fcf5" aria-expanded="true" aria-controls="id-870f3669-5e89-42b4-86ed-4eff5c62fcf5"> How do you ensure that recycled products are safe for consumers?</button> </h4><div id="id-870f3669-5e89-42b4-86ed-4eff5c62fcf5" class="accordion-collapse collapse " aria-labelledby="heading-870f3669-5e89-42b4-86ed-4eff5c62fcf5" data-bs-parent="#id-59875371-db33-416e-adfa-9269d486ec86"> <div class="accordion-body"> <p>→ <em>Approach/solution: </em><strong>Products </strong>can be<strong> certified</strong>, including by <strong>testing</strong> of the product and <strong>auditing</strong> of the production processes.</p> <p><strong><em>🛠 </em></strong><em>Applicable CASCO tool: </em>The standard <a href="https://www.iso.org/standard/46568.html">ISO/IEC 17065</a> gives assurance that products, processes or services conform with specified requirements in standards and other normative documents of a certification scheme.</p> </div> </div> </div><div class="accordion-item"> <h4 class="accordion-header" id="heading-0cf01d5e-36db-4480-a729-089d21e88c7a"><button class="accordion-button collapsed" type="button" data-bs-toggle="collapse" data-bs-target="#id-0cf01d5e-36db-4480-a729-089d21e88c7a" aria-expanded="true" aria-controls="id-0cf01d5e-36db-4480-a729-089d21e88c7a"> How do you ensure that shipment and transport services are both energy-efficient and low in emissions?</button> </h4><div id="id-0cf01d5e-36db-4480-a729-089d21e88c7a" class="accordion-collapse collapse " aria-labelledby="heading-0cf01d5e-36db-4480-a729-089d21e88c7a" data-bs-parent="#id-59875371-db33-416e-adfa-9269d486ec86"> <div class="accordion-body"> <p>→ <em>Approach/solution: </em><strong>Services</strong> can be <strong>certified</strong>, including through <strong>evaluation</strong> of the service provision.</p> <p><strong><em>🛠 </em></strong><em>Applicable CASCO tool: </em>Standard <a href="/standard/46568.html">ISO/IEC 17065</a> as it also applies to the certification of services.</p></div> </div> </div><div class="accordion-item"> <h4 class="accordion-header" id="heading-d0e02400-ffbe-4874-b9d3-a85e483533e8"><button class="accordion-button collapsed" type="button" data-bs-toggle="collapse" data-bs-target="#id-d0e02400-ffbe-4874-b9d3-a85e483533e8" aria-expanded="true" aria-controls="id-d0e02400-ffbe-4874-b9d3-a85e483533e8"> How do you ensure processes have a high recovery rate with a low waste volume?</button> </h4><div id="id-d0e02400-ffbe-4874-b9d3-a85e483533e8" class="accordion-collapse collapse " aria-labelledby="heading-d0e02400-ffbe-4874-b9d3-a85e483533e8" data-bs-parent="#id-59875371-db33-416e-adfa-9269d486ec86"> <div class="accordion-body"> <p>→ <em>Approach/solution: </em><strong>Processes</strong> can be <strong>certified</strong>, including by <strong>auditing</strong> the process operation and <strong>verification</strong> of data.</p> <p><strong><em>🛠 </em></strong><em>Applicable CASCO tool: </em>Standard <a href="/standard/46568.html" title="ISO/IEC 17065:2012 - Conformity assessment — Requirements for bodies certifying products, processes and services">ISO/IEC 17065</a> as it also applies to the certification of processes.</p> </div> </div> </div><div class="accordion-item"> <h4 class="accordion-header" id="heading-da6b1b1b-edac-4608-9e37-fe7aca0dc7ba"><button class="accordion-button collapsed" type="button" data-bs-toggle="collapse" data-bs-target="#id-da6b1b1b-edac-4608-9e37-fe7aca0dc7ba" aria-expanded="true" aria-controls="id-da6b1b1b-edac-4608-9e37-fe7aca0dc7ba"> How do you demonstrate that a supply chain management system is effective?</button> </h4><div id="id-da6b1b1b-edac-4608-9e37-fe7aca0dc7ba" class="accordion-collapse collapse " aria-labelledby="heading-da6b1b1b-edac-4608-9e37-fe7aca0dc7ba" data-bs-parent="#id-59875371-db33-416e-adfa-9269d486ec86"> <div class="accordion-body"> <p>→ <em>Approach/solution: </em>The <strong>management system </strong>can be <strong>certified</strong>.</p> <p><strong><em>🛠 </em></strong><em>Applicable CASCO tool: </em>Certification bodies using the <a href="/standard/61651.html" title="ISO/IEC 17021-1:2015 - Conformity assessment — Requirements for bodies providing audit and certification of management systems — Part 1: Requirements">ISO/IEC 17021</a> series of standards ensure the competence of their audit teams, adequate resources, following a consistent process, and deliver impartial results.</p> </div> </div> </div><div class="accordion-item"> <h4 class="accordion-header" id="heading-2cb58e6b-b155-4569-a7e8-30b65b87102a"><button class="accordion-button collapsed" type="button" data-bs-toggle="collapse" data-bs-target="#id-2cb58e6b-b155-4569-a7e8-30b65b87102a" aria-expanded="true" aria-controls="id-2cb58e6b-b155-4569-a7e8-30b65b87102a"> How do you ensure that maintenance and repair are performed by competent personnel?</button> </h4><div id="id-2cb58e6b-b155-4569-a7e8-30b65b87102a" class="accordion-collapse collapse " aria-labelledby="heading-2cb58e6b-b155-4569-a7e8-30b65b87102a" data-bs-parent="#id-59875371-db33-416e-adfa-9269d486ec86"> <div class="accordion-body"> <p>→ <em>Approach/solution: </em>The <strong>persons</strong> carrying out maintenance and repair can be <strong>certified</strong>.</p> <p><strong><em>🛠 </em></strong><em>Applicable CASCO tool: </em>The standard <a href="/standard/52993.html" title="ISO/IEC 17024:2012 - Conformity assessment — General requirements for bodies operating certification of persons">ISO/IEC 17024</a> ensures that certification bodies operating certification schemes for persons operate in a consistent, comparable and reliable manner.</p></div> </div> </div></div> </div><h3>Case snapshots</h3> <div class="accordion " id="id-769db6c4-ba62-40d2-bddc-3f35306ab970"> <div class="accordion-item"> <h3 class="accordion-header" id="heading-9722a419-ca48-4117-a369-c69f5d35c568"><button class="accordion-button collapsed" type="button" data-bs-toggle="collapse" data-bs-target="#id-9722a419-ca48-4117-a369-c69f5d35c568" aria-expanded="true" aria-controls="id-9722a419-ca48-4117-a369-c69f5d35c568"> Regulation for safer recycling of European ships</button> </h3><div id="id-9722a419-ca48-4117-a369-c69f5d35c568" class="accordion-collapse collapse " aria-labelledby="heading-9722a419-ca48-4117-a369-c69f5d35c568" data-bs-parent="#id-769db6c4-ba62-40d2-bddc-3f35306ab970"> <div class="accordion-body"> <p>Ship recycling is part of a global value chain in which European shipowners use recycling yards abroad. Poor recycling conditions cause environmental degradation and accidents of workers.</p> <p>The <strong>regulation</strong> of ship recycling in Europe has come a long way since the EU brought into force new rules for the clean and safe dismantling of ships. The EU Ship Recycling Regulation states that independent <strong>verifiers should be accredited as inspection bodies to ISO/IEC 17020</strong>. The objective of the Regulation is to reduce the negative impacts linked to the recycling of ships flying the flag of Member States of the Union. The use of competent organizations to carry out the verification provides confidence to the regulator that the work is being carried out effectively.</p> <p><small>Source: <a href="https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A52016XC0412%2801%29">EU Commission website.</a></small></p> </div> </div> </div><div class="accordion-item"> <h3 class="accordion-header" id="heading-0c825445-ec0e-4af3-8c86-79e8e74c35ab"><button class="accordion-button collapsed" type="button" data-bs-toggle="collapse" data-bs-target="#id-0c825445-ec0e-4af3-8c86-79e8e74c35ab" aria-expanded="true" aria-controls="id-0c825445-ec0e-4af3-8c86-79e8e74c35ab"> Safer asbestos management with accredited inspection bodies</button> </h3><div id="id-0c825445-ec0e-4af3-8c86-79e8e74c35ab" class="accordion-collapse collapse " aria-labelledby="heading-0c825445-ec0e-4af3-8c86-79e8e74c35ab" data-bs-parent="#id-769db6c4-ba62-40d2-bddc-3f35306ab970"> <div class="accordion-body"> <p>International rules for asbestos management on maritime vessels <strong>ensure a safe environment</strong> for crew, passengers and other persons who could be exposed to this hazardous substance if it was used in a ship’s construction.</p> <p>The International Maritime Organization (IMO)’s International Convention for Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), 1974, introduced the first major ban on asbestos for ships built before 1 July 2002. This was later extended by the SOLAS 2009 Amendments (Resolution, MSC.282(86)), the IMO Hong Kong Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships (2009; SR/CONF/45) and subsequent IMO circulars, which prohibit the new installation of asbestos-containing materials on all ships since 1 January 2011.</p> <p>Asbestos (and other hazardous products) detected on board the ship must now be listed in an Inventory of Hazardous Materials. Some countries are aware that asbestos-free declarations can be inaccurate and insist that a ship registered under their flag has a verification asbestos <strong>survey performed by a marine specialist ISO/IEC 17020-accredited company</strong>, so that any asbestos found can be removed before the ship is registered. Accreditation based on this standard demonstrates compliance with the International Maritime Organization.</p> <p><small>Source: <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220808002031/https:/publicsectorassurance.org/case-study/accredited-inspection-ensures-the-safe-management-of-asbestos-on-maritime-vessels/">Public Sector Assurance case study</a>.</small></p> </div> </div> </div><div class="accordion-item"> <h3 class="accordion-header" id="heading-ddb7868a-1ebc-4afd-96ba-b48c931d572b"><button class="accordion-button collapsed" type="button" data-bs-toggle="collapse" data-bs-target="#id-ddb7868a-1ebc-4afd-96ba-b48c931d572b" aria-expanded="true" aria-controls="id-ddb7868a-1ebc-4afd-96ba-b48c931d572b"> Certification raises ambitions to reduce event footprint</button> </h3><div id="id-ddb7868a-1ebc-4afd-96ba-b48c931d572b" class="accordion-collapse collapse " aria-labelledby="heading-ddb7868a-1ebc-4afd-96ba-b48c931d572b" data-bs-parent="#id-769db6c4-ba62-40d2-bddc-3f35306ab970"> <div class="accordion-body"> <p>Events, whether big or small, often lead to energy and resource waste. ISO’s standard for sustainable events management, <a href="/standard/86389.html" title=" ISO 20121:2024 - Event sustainability management systems — Requirements with guidance for use">ISO 20121</a>, was developed to relieve the strain on the environment as well as on local infrastructure and utilities where events are hosted. The London 2012 Olympics was the first major event to achieve ISO 20121 certification and has been highly influential in the standard’s creation and development.</p> <p>Several factors contribute to the sustainability of an event: from the choice of location to environmental protection, from the well-being of workers to sharing responsible choices with suppliers. These decisions lie at the core of today’s climate commitments, which the Paris Climate Change Conference (COP21) honoured by being ISO 20121-certified, later followed by COP24 and COP26. With a <strong>certification process that requires constant monitoring and the definition of precise improvement objectives</strong>, ISO 20121 can be considered a continuous stimulus to change.</p> </div> </div> </div></div><p>Would you like to share additional examples of conformity assessment enhancing trust in the circular economy? <a href="mailto:casco@iso.org?subject=Conformity%20assessment%20in%20the%20circular%20economy%20-%20case%20study%20suggestion">Contact us!</a></p></div> </div> </div> </section> </article><div class="nav-breadcrumb print-footer bg-black"> <div class="container"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-10 small">  <ol class="breadcrumb"> <li class="breadcrumb-item"><a href="/home.html" title="Home page"><i class="bi-house" aria-hidden="true"></i></a></li> <li class="breadcrumb-item"> Insights & news</li> <li class="breadcrumb-item"> Insights</li> <li class="breadcrumb-item"> <a href="/insights">All insights</a> </li> <li class="breadcrumb-item"> The circular economy: building trust through conformity …</li></ol></div> <div class="col-sm-2 hidden-print text-end small mt-3 mt-sm-0"> <a role="button" class="dropdown-toggle text-white collapsed" data-bs-toggle="collapse" href="#collapseSitemap" target="_self" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="collapseSitemap">Sitemap</a> </div> </div> <div class="collapse border-top" id="collapseSitemap"> <div class="row">  <nav role="navigation" aria-label="Sitemap" class="sitemap-footer clearfix text-xs" id="nav-sitemap"><ul role='menubar' class='list-inline-6 clearfix nav-level1' ><li role='menuitem' class=' hasChildren firstInLevel' ><a class='nav-link ' title="Covering almost every product, process or service imaginable, ISO makes standards used everywhere." href='/standards.html'>Standards</a><ul role='menubar' class='list-unstyled nav-level2' ><li role='menuitem' class=' noChildren firstInLevel' ><a class='nav-link ' title="Whether you run a business, work for a company or government, or you are a consumer looking for goods and services that meet customer expectations: Find out what standards can do for you." href='/benefits-of-standards.html'>Benefits</a></li><li role='menuitem' class=' noChildren' ><a class='nav-link ' title="Here you can discover some of the best-known and most widely-used standards, as well as those that address recently emerged challenges affecting us all. 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