Material Circularity Indicator (MCI)
The Material Circulator Indicator (MCI) assesses the circular performance of a product or material through three key metrics: firstly, the proportion of circular materials used (such as recycled or reused content); secondly, the end-of-life outcomes (determining whether a product is recycled or disposed of in a landfill); and thirdly, the durability of the product or material.
Non-recoverable waste
In essence, the circular performance of a product or material is assessed by comparing the weight of non-recoverable waste generated during both production and end-of-life phases to the total weight of the product or material.
We start by categorizing the input materials as virgin, recycled, reused, or biological. This classification is essential for calculating the amount of non-recoverable waste generated during the production of a product.
Then, we examine the end-of-life scenarios, such as recycling, reusing, composting, or energy recovery. This information is crucial for determining the amount of non-recoverable waste produced after a product's lifecycle.
More information on the assessment of the circular performance will be provided in the section Linear Flow Index.
The other aspect of the MCI is the longevity of a product. Here the longevity of a product will be compared to the industry average.This metric compares a product's lifespan to the industry average, with longer-lasting products positively influencing the MCI score. It's important to note that the assessment of longevity differs when calculating the MCI for a product versus a material. Further details can be found in the deep dive section Utility Factor.
Yook's MCI calculator is based on the 2019 revision of the methodology by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and GRANTA Design.
Information that need to be provided for the calculation:
the share of reused materials
the share of recycled materials
the share of sustainable biological materials
Product lifetime or number of functional units achieved during the lifetime
Information that can help increase the accuracy of the calculation:
collection rate for recycling [%]
Efficiency of recycling [%] (how much recycled output will be created)
rate of biological material meeting criteria for energy recovery [%]
efficiency energy recovery
rate of component reuse
Industry average lifetime or average number of functional units achieved during the lifetime
Advantages
Provides another indicator of sustainability alongside the Product Carbon Footprint (PCF)
Promotes the use of recycled or reused materials and encourages recycling at the end of the product's life
Considers longevity; thus, materials with higher durability compared to the industry average have a positive impact on MCI
Limitations
Methodology can be unclear in some instances
Lack of data for average product lifetime and recycling/collection rates due to limited adaption
Despite its limitations, the Material Circularity Indicator (MCI) is a valuable tool for considering circularity and durability alongside the Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) in material and product selection.
Last updated
