EN 45560:2024

This document proposes a method to achieve circular designs of products. It details principles, requirements and guidance associated with the proposed method. This document: • specifies requirements and guidance for integrating circularity into the design and development process of products by an organization and, • supports organizations to develop product design rules to fulfil their chosen circular business targets (e.g. the circular business models chosen by the organization or the legislation requirements). Having life cycle thinking as a core principle, this document provides guidance on how to reduce environmental impacts, and how to deal with challenges such as trade-offs during circular product design, without compromising other product functions including safety. This document focusses on material efficiency. It is not a management system standard. This document can be applied when no product-specific or product group standard exist. Where such documents are developed, this document can be used as reference to ensure consistency and harmonization across the different product areas and supply chains or networks. NOTE For the purpose of this document, the following products are excluded: food, feed, medicinal products for human use, veterinary medicinal products, living plants, animals and microorganisms, products of human origin, products of plants and animals relating directly to their future reproduction.