ICC Ecoterms On Circular Economy - Common definitions for business
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ICC Ecoterms® on Circular Economy
ICC Ecoterms® on Circular Economy is a business-to-business resource that provides common definitions for 16 of the most widely used circular economy terms in global trade. It supports consistent interpretation of regulatory requirements, clearer communication on sustainability terms, and the scaling of circular economy models across global value chains.
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ICC Ecoterms® provide businesses with a common language for environmental terms widely used in international contracts, supply-chain communications and regulatory compliance.
ICC Ecoterms® on Circular Economy, the first resource in the ICC Ecoterms® series, provide clear and practical definitions for 16 core terms:
- Core concepts: Circular economy, life cycle, eco-design
- End-of-use processes: Reuse, recycling, remanufacturing, refurbishing, repurposing
- Material flows: Waste, by-product, secondary raw material, waste recovery
- Specific applications: Compostable, recyclable batteries, waste batteries, construction and demolition waste
Environmental terminology increasingly carries commercial, legal and reputational consequences, driven by regulation, corporate sustainability commitments and customer expectations.
Common terms help business, regulators and supply-chain partners to operate from a shared understanding across jurisdictions and sectors – supporting more consistent regulatory compliance and the scaling of circular economy models across global value chains.
Unlike ICC Incoterms® rules, which allocate contractual rights and obligations between buyers and sellers, ICC Ecoterms® do not impose legal obligations.
Who should use ICC Ecoterms® on Circular Economy?
- Compliance teams communicating regulatory requirements to operations teams responsible for delivery and execution
- Compliance teams working with procurement functions to define supplier requirements and contractual language
- Compliance and sales teams aligning terminology when engaging with customers and agreeing commercial terms
How can businesses use ICC Ecoterms® on Circular Economy?
- As a reference resource: Standardise communication across compliance, procurement, operations and sales functions
- In contracts: Incorporate by reference in commercial agreements (while ensuring alignment with applicable law)
- For policy dialogue: Reference in discussions with policymakers to improve mutual understanding of commercial practice
Important note
Wherever jurisdiction-specific legal or regulatory requirements exist, those requirements prevail over ICC Ecoterms®.
For more on ICC’s circular economy work, see:
- Putting the circular economy into motion: From barriers to opportunities
- Key enablers for a circular economy
For guidance on environmental claims in advertising and marketing communications, consult:
