H-AIST CE Lab. held an International Symposium on Standardization to Promote Transition to Circular Economy.

Approximately 250 people (50 on-site and 200 online participants) were in attendance on the day of the symposium. We communicated the results of H-AIST CE Lab.'s standardization-focused activities, and shared details of CE-related standardization efforts in seven countries. We would like to express our deepest gratitude to all those who attended the lectures and panel discussions, as well as to all the participants.

Event program and materials

[Host Address] International Standardization toward Digital CE Transition [PDF (English)]
Mr. Osamu Hoshino, Hitachi, Ltd. (H-AIST CE Lab. WG3 Leader)

[Keynote Speech 1] Challenges Indicated by Survey Results on Standardization Trends during the Transition to a Circular Economy [PDF (English)]
Dr. Giselle Vincett, Yordas Group

[Keynote Speech 2] Accelerating Circular Economy Transition through Achieving Data Model Standardization and Interoperability [PDF (English)]
Dr. Lan Yamashita, Toshiba Corporation (Chairperson of IEC SC3D)

[Lecture 1] CE Promotion Activities, Research, and Standardization Examples in the USA [PDF (English)]
Dr. Kelsea Schumacher, US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)

[Lecture 2] Accelerating Material Circulation and Prolonging Product Lifecycles: IEC/ISO Perspectives and Insights from the Recent SCL Circular Economy System (SCL: System Change Lab) [PDF (English)]
Mr. Walter Jager, Principal, ECD Compliance: IEC TC111 Vice Chairperson

[Lecture 3-1] Address by Mr. Luiz Carlos Busato on Behalf of ABNT [PDF (English)]
Mr. Luiz Carlos Busato, Associação Brasileira de Normas Técnicas (ABNT)

[Lecture 3-2] Circularity Matrix: Secondary Material Grading and Brazilian Circular Economy Approaches [PDF (English)]
Dr. Lúcia Helena Xavier, CETEM (Centro de Tecnologia Mineral) from ABNT

[Lecture 4] Circular Transition Indicators (WBCSD CTI) [PDF (English)]
Ms. Irene Martinetti, Leader, Circular Transition Indicators (CTI), World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD)

[Lecture 5] Smooth Transition to a Circular Economy: Insights from MECO's Experience with the Circular Data Set Initiative (PCDS) [PDF (English)]
Mr. Jérôme Petry, Ministry of the Economy (MECO) Luxembourg (ISO TC323 WGS Convener)

[Lecture 6] How to Enable Trust Without Sharing Detailed Information About Individual Items Across a Digital Product Life Cycle [PDF (English)]
Dr. Raul Carlsson, RISE Research Institutes of Sweden (CEN/TC 473 Circular Economy Chairperson)

[Panel Discussion] Standardization Approaches from the Cyber-Physical System (CPS) Perspective Contributing to the Transition to a Circular Economy
Panelists:
Dr. Yoshiaki Ichikawa, Tama University
Dr. Lan Yamashita, Toshiba Corporation
Mr. Walter Jager, ECD Compliance
Mr. Luiz Carlos Busato, Associação Brasileira de Normas Técnicas (ABNT)
Mr. Jerome Petry, Ministry of the Economy (MECO) Luxembourg
Dr. Raul Carlsson, RISE Research Institutes of Sweden

Moderators:
Dr. Alex Paul / Dr. Giselle Vincett, Yordas Group

[For reference]
・Video from the event (Japanese language version)

[Speaker Biography]

Mr. Osamu Hoshino Mr. Osamu Hoshino is the leader of H-AIST CE Lab. WG3 (Standardization Strategy and Measures Proposal). As a member of Hitachi's IP Division, he engaged in mid- to long-term IP strategy formulation for Hitachi, international standardization activities, software-related patent acquisition, and international patent licensing negotiations. During his time seconded to the Cabinet Secretariat, Government of Japan, he formulated the government's mid- to long-term strategy through inter-ministry coordination and also supported the activities of members of the House of Representatives. He is a qualified patent attorney (Japan) and has both an MS in Mechano-informatics and MBA (University of Oxford)

Dr. Giselle Vincett Dr. Giselle Vincett is VP for North America for Yordas Group. She has led Yordas' operations in North America since 2018. She also leads on thought leadership and business strategy within Yordas, and has a background in social research in a number of disciplines, including sociology and human geography. Giselle has led large funded research projects using innovative research methods, and working with hard to access or vulnerable populations. She has also published books on social research methodologies and has worked with policy makers and media on research impact.

Dr. Lan Yamashita Dr. Lan Yamashita is a fellow of Toshiba's Corporate Research and Development Center. She is an expert in data modelling and system interoperability technologies, and has held many posts, including chairperson of IC SC3D, convenor of IC JahG22 (CFP Digitalization), and international expert for IC SMB/SG12 (Digital transformation and systems approach). Dr. Yamashita is also leading projects on standardizing data models for CFP and DPP, and working to apply them to support cross-domain interoperability.

Dr. Kelsea Schumacher Dr. Kelsea Schumacher joined the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in 2020 to help develop the Circular Economy program. In that role, she has worked extensively to identify the challenges facing a circular economy for "high-tech" products (electronics, solar panels, batteries), plastics, textiles, and food waste, as well as needs and solutions to overcome barriers. Prior to joining NIST, she received a PhD in Environmental Policy from the University of Delaware, where she researched the practice and policy of electronic waste recycling in the US. She also has a BS in Environmental Engineering and an MS in Civil Engineering, both from Oregon State University.

Mr. Walter Jager Mr. Walter Jager is principal consultant of ECD Compliance, where he has supported manufacturers and solution providers in developing product compliance solutions to global environmental regulations, ecolabels and standards representation. He has contributed to international standards in circular economy, environmental compliance, and eco-design. He is vice chairperson of IC/TC111 on environmental standardization for electrical and electronic products and systems, and leads the advisory group on standardization strategy. He holds master's degrees in Electrical Engineering and Business Administration, and has gained a wide range of experience in design engineering, quality and reliability engineering, product management, supply chain management, and environmental compliance and sustainability.

Mr. Luiz Carlos Busato Mr. Luiz Carlos Busato has served as Chairman of the ABNT/CEE-246 Technical Committee for Standardization on Waste Management and Reverse Logistics since 2001. His professional career includes over 15 years of work for the industrial sector as Process and Environmental Engineer, and another 15 years as a consultant for different sectors giving technical support on themes such as regulations, strategic and greenfield projects. He holds a master's degree with distinction in Environmental Science and Technology by IHE-Delft in The Netherlands, and a degree in Chemical Engineering from the Federal University of Paraná, Brazil.

Dr. Lúcia Helena Xavier Dr. Lúcia Helena Xavier is senior researcher in Brazil's Center for Mineral Technology (Centro de Tecnologia Mineral, CETEM, Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation). Her main research is in reverse logistics, urban mining and circular economy. She holds two patents relating to the disassembly and safe transportation of e-waste. She is the author of four books relating to waste and e-waste management and circular economy, and multiple scientific articles. She also contributed to ISO TC 323 (Circular Economy) and JWG 14 (Secondary Materials). She received a PhD in Production Engineering from COPPE/UFRJ, and a post-doctorate in Computer Engineering from the University of São Paulo. She coordinates the REMINAR3 project, which evaluates circular pathways for e-waste in Brazil.

Ms. Irene Martinetti Ms. Irene Martinetti is a circular economy and sustainability professional with over 20 years of experience across public and private sectors, and a variety of roles. She leads the strategic development and implementation of Circular Transition Indicators (CTI) work at the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD). Developed for businesses by businesses, the CTIs are paving the way for the effective management and upscaling of circularity by business organizations of all sectors and sizes, globally.

Mr. Jérôme Petry Mr. Jérôme Petry majored in physics and subsequently obtained an MBA. He worked for 15 years in the electronics industry before joining the Ministry of the Economy (MECO) of Luxembourg in 2018. He is currently in charge of circular economy projects, and leads the Product Circularity Data Sheet Initiative. Since April 2021, he has been editor of ISO 59040 and convenor of TC323/WG5, in charge of the new standard on product circularity data sheets.

Dr. Raul Carlsson Dr. Raul Carlsson is chairperson of the new European standardization committee CEN/TC 473, which is developing the European (EN) standards for circular economy. He also participated as an expert in ISO/TC 323 (Circular Economy), where he made particular contributions to the standard for measuring and assessing circularity performance. He has many years of experience from industrial research and standardization in the fields of sustainability, metrology and digitalization, and has contributed to the development of numerous international standards relating to measurement and data handling since the mid 1990s. Currently, he is employed by the Swedish government research institute RISE (Research Institutes of Sweden), where he works as a senior researcher in the field of certification development for sustainability and traceability.

Dr. Yoshiaki Ichikawa Dr. Yoshiaki Ichikawa is a visiting professor at Tama University (Center for Rule-Making Strategy). He received his Doctor of Engineering degree in 1987, from the University of Tokyo, Japan. He joined Hitachi, Ltd., in 1979, and was engaged in robotics, artificial intelligence, and network system management. In 2000, he started providing IT support systems and consulting in the environmental field to top-level management at leading companies in Japan. In 2005, he joined the Environmental Strategy Office and provided in-house consulting to group companies and business divisions, primarily on ecodesign and global legal compliance. From 2013, he worked in the International Standardization Office, advising standardization activities within the Hitachi Group. From 2016, he presided over the Chief Architect Office, R&D Group, helping to create new businesses based on innovative business strategies, and became a technical advisor to the R&D Group. He retired from Hitachi in 2020. His international activities include being the convenor of WG2 for ISO TC 323 (Circular Economy), former chairperson and convenor of CAG for ISO TC 268/SC1 (Smart Community Infrastructures), an expert for ISO TC207 (Environmental Management), former chairperson and convenor of JWG ECD for IC TC 111 (Environmental Standardisation), and a member of the IEC Advisory Committee for Environmental Aspects (ACEA). He received the Thomas Edison Award from IEC in 2016, in recognition of his long-term service as an IEC chairperson.