scope:

Objectives

This Guideline has been developed to aid primary and secondary service providers and to establish a set of common definitions, performance metrics, and reporting requirements in support of best practices in the management of end-of-life (EOL) materials.

In addition to providing a consistent framework that will allow for more effective and informed decision making on EOL management options, this Guideline facilitates a rigorous, transparent, and accountable materials management system that provides for greater assurance regarding the management of these materials, from the point of collection through to final disposition. It describes a method to account for and verify these flows (serving to improve data accuracy) and identifies the key elements of a data verification audit.

This Guideline provides a transparent means to support the move to a more circular economy*. Unlike the linear model, which is based on a 'take-make-consume and dispose' pattern of growth, a circular economy keeps resources within the economy, optimizing resource reuse potential and creating further value.