BBCIRCLE - Assessment of a new circularity index

A new circularity index has been proposed and evaluated in an integrated biorefinery process. This index considers as inputs easily accessible and measurable factors distributed in three levels of importance according to their relevance for the circular economy principles. Each key-factor has been divided into several sub-key factors and an algorithm weights each key-factor and measures how each one can contribute to the circularity. A tool has been developed for the estimation of the circularity index, which is a method to quantify how much a biorefinery applies the circular economy principles. In such a way, useful suggestion for new research pathways could also be gained in view of improving the overall process environmental sustainability.