Launched by the Ministry of Economy, the PCDS initiative on product circularity data has taken a major step towards becoming an internationally recognised standard

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has just decided to make the PCDS initiative on product circularity data a future ISO/NP 59040 standard. The initiative launched in 2018 by the Ministry of Economy has thus taken a major step towards becoming an internationally recognised standard.

The Product Circularity Data Sheet (PCDS) is an open-source format for standardized circular data. The sheet provides information on product circularity to all actors involved in its value chain. The standardised information can thus be easily shared by manufacturers across every sector from buildings to packaging, textile and consumer goods. Designed as a fingerprint for sharing circular product data, the Data Sheet is open to everybody and complements existing circular economy platforms.

Currently, many platforms have their own proprietary formats for communicating circularity data and are looking for ways to avoid creating extra costs for manufacturers who currently have to adjust their product data content and format for every new platform. The lack of uniformity is also a major problem for regulators and certifiers trying to compare product data.

The minister of the Economy, Franz Fayot, said: "The ISO decision is paving the way for our PCDS initiative to become an international standard on reporting, auditing and exchanging circular properties on products. Together with all economic actors involved, we can, based on this solution, accompany a paradigm shift towards a more circular and resource-friendly future for all of us.”

The PCDS initiative of the Ministry of Economy to foster the collection and exchange of standardised data in the field of the circular economy is part of the strategy to promote the data-driven economy, while positioning Luxembourg as a major circular business hub. Since the launch of the initiative 3 years ago, more than 50 renowned companies from 12 different countries have joined the project.

Dr. Christian Tock added: "The PCDS will save time and money for everyone across the Circular Economy supply cycle by providing a standard that can be easily interfaced with their own systems. It is a major step forward in providing trustworthy and easy exchangeable data. We are appreciative of the ISO and its members for showing leadership and foresight in this critical arena. One of our aims in supporting this, was to show how Luxembourg is a digital innovation driver for the Circular Economy.”

Following the vote of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), the ISO 59040 - PCDS project has been added to the work program of the technical committee ISO/TC 323 on Circular Economy being coordinated by AFNOR in France. "Such tremendous efforts towards a more circular economy through standardization is an important cornerstone, ” underlines Jean-Marie Reiff, Director of the Institut luxembourgeois de la normalisation, de l'accréditation, de la sécurité et qualité des produits et services (ILNAS).

A pilot version of the PCDS is available for feedback and can be freely downloaded here: https://gd.lu/8HNg7F. ISO/TC 323 will use it as a starting point to develop the standard.

Press release by the Ministry of the Economy