Which framework is this based on?

It draws on the Ellen MacArthur Foundation circular economy principles — designing out waste, keeping products and materials in use, and regenerating natural systems — expressed as five practical dimensions with a five-level maturity ladder for self-assessment.

What do the five maturity levels mean?

Level 1 is a linear take-make-dispose model. Level 2 is reactive compliance, level 3 is structured programmes, level 4 is embedded business models, and level 5 is a regenerative model where circularity is a core value proposition. Most organisations start between levels 2 and 3.

Why include circular procurement?

Much of a product's circularity is locked in by what you buy. Specifying recycled content, durability, repairability, and take-back in purchasing contracts moves the whole supply chain, which is why procurement is one of the five scored dimensions.

What is product-as-a-service?

It is a business model where you sell the function of a product rather than the product itself, retaining ownership and incentivising durability, reuse, and refurbishment. Examples include leasing, pay-per-use, and subscription models that reward keeping assets in service longer.

Is averaging the right way to score maturity?

A simple average gives a clear single number and is transparent, but a low score in one dimension can be hidden by strengths elsewhere. That is why the tool also surfaces your weakest dimension separately, so a blind spot is not masked by the average.

Circular Economy Maturity Assessment

A circular economy keeps products and materials in use, designs out waste, and regenerates natural systems. This assessment rates your organisation across five practical dimensions on a five-level maturity ladder aligned with Ellen MacArthur Foundation principles, giving you an overall score and a clear next step.

How it works

Each dimension is scored from level 1 (linear) to level 5 (regenerative). The overall score is the average of the five, and the weakest dimension is surfaced separately so a single blind spot is not masked:

dimensions  = circular design · product-as-a-service · reverse logistics
            · material recovery · circular procurement
overall     = (sum of five levels) / 5
band        = Linear (1–1.9) · Reactive (2–2.9) · Structured (3–3.9)
            · Embedded (4–4.9) · Regenerative (5)
priority    = lowest-scoring dimension, with its next-level target

Tips and notes

The most common pattern is strong recycling (material recovery) paired with weak upstream design — recycling waste you designed in is far less valuable than not creating it. If your weakest dimension is circular design, prioritise design-for-disassembly, durability, and recycled-content targets, because design decisions constrain every later stage. Reassess annually and track the trend rather than the absolute number.