Topics
3C-Platform
Online sharing platform that shares, structures and validates information on the circular impact of products
The demand for sustainable and circular products, services and buildings is increasing exponentially. This is a challenge for both the market and professional buyers, because mapping the sustainability impact of products throughout their value chain is a very complex matter.
This project starts from the need of circular producers and buyers to exchange this information in a safe and reliable way and to consult it in a user-friendly way.
In concrete terms, we want to set up an online sharing platform that maps, structures and validates all circular business intelligence and information on circular products, in order to facilitate the offering and buying of circular solutions.
Making this complex information on circular products accessible can greatly increase support among buyers. The complexity in combination with the large number of existing initiatives per sector that want to map out the sustainability of products, currently causes a lot of confusion and little transparency.
We do not want to replace existing instruments, systems or certificates in any way, but rather valorise them through this intelligent platform that analyses and displays all information in a user-friendly and reliable manner.
The project is in its first development phase and has the provisional working title of 3C-Platform (Triple C). The implementation of this project consists of four work packages, two of which are being developed in the context of this open call from Flanders Circular.
The Global Picture
Partners NNOF, Alsico, Andres Corporate, Philips Lighting
Organisations
Website
MOST IMPORTANT
RESULTS
- We analysed the existing systems and information that demonstrate the circularity of a product, and tried to determine the value of that information with a verification process in the context of public procurement and public procurement legislation.
- We designed a methodology for mapping the circular impact through the value chain of a product.
- We tested our methodology through three demonstration projects with three companies. These involve a full circular analysis of all claims and evidence throughout the product life cycle.
- We have drawn up a final blueprint for the development of our online tool. We can use this in our discussions with financiers and IT experts.
MOST IMPORTANT
LESSONS LEARNED
- Evidence for circular products goes beyond labels and certificates. This can only be mapped via demo projects. There is a need for more demo projects to map the specific parameters of circular products, claims and evidence per sector.
- Producers are not (yet) used to analysing the circularity of their products. There is a need for guidance to make that exercise through the value chain. In addition to our tool, a guidance methodology must also be developed.
- The certification of our tool itself is one of the biggest challenges for this project. For this, we need to cooperate with global partners who are active in the certification world.
WHAT DOES
THE FUTURE HOLD?
The project is still in its development phase. Once we have created an alpha version, we want to test at least 50 products (within five product groups) before developing the final architecture of the platform. Only then will we plan a large-scale communication campaign.
Ultimately, the platform will collect and structure all information about the circularity of a product in one place. It will create value for users by providing structured templates that allow often complex information and data to be displayed in a user-friendly way. It will analyse circular business intelligence and display it in a structured way with regard to the circularity of products, the sustainability of suppliers and transparency in supply chains. It will provide access to potential circular buyers through a simple link to a protected online environment. And it will allow for third-party validation of the collective evidence of a circular product.
