Finally, when asked to prioritise the construction phases, phase D (beyond the system) was considered the most important, followed by phases C1-C4 (the end-of-life phase) and A1-A3 (the product phase). Surprisingly, phases A4-A5 (the construction phase) and B1-B5 (the use phase) were considered relatively low importance. The discussions added that the design phase is an important lifecycle aspect missing from the LCA approach.
Implementation barriers for a new voluntary framework
The following summary of identified implementation barriers is based on Nordic country profile reports produced within WP3 and notes from stakeholder workshops, interviews, and questionnaires.
Low company relevance
If the indicators are mainly reported as macro indicators at the country or county level, companies may not see the relevance, hindering implementation at a micro level.
Competitive interests and knowledge sharing
Competitive interests within the sector might hinder knowledge sharing across the sector. This, again, creates a barrier to collaboration and learning. Many companies also lack knowledge about the circular economy to incorporate the indicators into their business model.
Low understanding of the indicators
The absence of standardised terminology and translations might make aligning stakeholders’ understanding of the metrics and data across countries and companies challenging. It also represents a barrier to efficient and correct reporting of the indicators.
Lack of regulatory incentives
There is a lack of regulatory incentives in current and future planned legislation, which can hinder the effective implementation of new indicators. Current policies and regulations are insufficient in monitoring CE indicators. In addition, current legislation does not require companies to achieve clear minimum targets on the indicators, which can also be a barrier to implementing the indicators.
Additional reporting platforms
This adds complexity to reporting processes and introduces a challenge to operationalising the indicators' implementation.
Culture and current business practices
A strong tradition for linear practices and thinking presents a challenge as many stakeholders may resist adapting new practices without the right incentives.
Lack of best practices and forerunners
Small- and medium-sized businesses may lack guidance on implementing the indicators due to a shortcoming of forerunners who are quick to implement the indicators.
Limited data availability
There is a scarcity of available statistics necessary to report on the indicators. This means that companies are not reporting the necessary data for the indicators today, requiring the establishment of new routines for identifying, collecting, and reporting the data.