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Product labelling for circularity/durability/reparability

 

Product labels for circularity can encourage consumers to make more environmentally friendly purchasing choices, thus nudging manufacturers towards a more sustainable production (16);  help extend product lifespan by promoting repair over disposal (4); and ensure correct sorting and recycling of end-of-life products. 

 

They can include various lifecycle aspects, such as a product’s origin, energy efficiency, lifespan (i.e. durability, reparability and upgradeability), or its recyclability – although most consumer-oriented information is currently related to upstream and end-of-life aspects (16).  

Indeed, product lifespan labels for circular economy are still in the early stages of development, and are mostly private labels or voluntary schemes. Similarly, labels and certificates for used goods are relatively scant and tend to be limited to certain product groups (16). Other consumer-oriented labels are waste separation labels, which can improve the waste stream both at consumer and sorting plant level (9), and recycled content labels, which promote the use of recycled materials (16).  

 

In an increasingly digital and IoT-enabled economy, some manufacturers turn to interactive and smart labels. These solutions help engage consumers by providing an immersive consumer experience, maintain control over the supply chain and grant traceability, and fight counterfeiting (17).  

 

Product labels and Digital Product Passports, as proposed in the European Commission’s Sustainable Products Initiative (2), can play an important role in the transition to a circular economy, especially if paired with eco-labels and certification schemes. Their impact can be maximised by the integration with novel technologies such as functional materials and inks, Radio-frequency identification (RFID) and Near-field communication (NFC) technologies, blockchain, and IoT (11). 

 

Smart Labels for circularity, durability, reparability, and recyclability 

Traditional optical markers (e.g. 1-dimensional barcodes, QR codes) are widely used to return static information about a product. Enabled by barcode scanning apps, they can redirect the consumer towards information on how to e.g. recycle a specific product or packaging (9), or disassemble, repair, and replace a component (21). 

Further evolutions of product labelling are represented by RFID tags, novel QR codes with functional components (e.g. smart inks and indicators (14)), printable electronics, and new flexible chips (such as CAPID) – which can provide dynamic, context- and item-specific information (12) usually accessible through a smartphone. 

Depending on the technology, smart labels can thus carry information about origin and composition (20), environmental footprint, instructions for repair, recycling and disposal (18), but can also be sensitive to environmental conditions and provide real-time information and feedback.  

Examples of innovative solutions for smart labelling are TagItSmart tags and On Track RFID-tags. 

TagItSmart concept overview 

 

Smart Labels for zero-waste – food industry 

The experimentation with and use of smart inks and labels is more advanced in the sector of fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG), especially for perishable food products. The use of such labels can maximise shelf life of products and help contribute to the reduction of food waste by monitoring the freshness of the product, detecting leakages, and monitoring after-opening time. Freshness smart labels can provide visual or tactile feedback, such as the IFLFSCTM, T-Sense Cold, and Mimica Touch temperature-sensitive labels. Alternatively, they can require an NFC reader (smartphone and dedicated app) to access the information, like in the case of INNPAPER printed electronics and GLOPACK RFID bio-sensors.  

GLOPACK RFID Tag 

 

Sustainable and recyclable labels 

As both traditional and smart labels need not only to enable circularity but also to be sustainable themselves, more and more packaging and labelling solutions try to make use of recycled and recyclable materials. Examples are the 100% compostable packaging compatible with compostable labels by Nature Fresh, and Mimica Touch caps and tags matching the material of the package for easy sorting.  

With regard to RFID tags, newer generations using printable electronics are more sustainable than traditional ones (8), as they can offer biodegradable or recyclable solutions and, especially if combined with addictive manufacturing techniques, help reduce e-waste (22). Examples are INNPAPER paper-based smart label and T-Sense Cold indicators. 

 

MATURITY:  

 

Ready for commercialisation/available on the market 

  • Databases, QR codes, barcodes, RFIDs, and watermarks for a more efficient and effective tracking of materials, reuse and recycling (15), and provision of information about products along the value-chain and to final users [e.g. TagItSmart, On Track]. 

  • Indicators for food freshness, such as Mimica Touch and IFLFSCTM.  

 

Development/demonstration stage 

  • Blockchain solutions for information on disassembly/reparability such as CirculariseSource. These technologies aim to share information for consumers and actors throughout the value chain while protecting companies IP and confidential information.  

  • New generations of RFID tags, like GLOPACK wireless food spoilage indicator, and printed electronics for smart labelling, such as INNPAPER.  

  • New thermochromic inks for smart labelling of food, such as T-Sense Cold. 

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PRE-CONDITIONS & ENABLING CONDITIONS
CONSTRAINTS/BARRIERS FOR IMPLEMENTATION
DRAWBACKS/ADVERSE IMPACTS OF THE SOLUTIONS after implementation
EXTERNAL LINKS
IMPACTS (Indicators + DNSH)
INSTRUMENTS/Processes for implementation
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Grey water treatment (including Nature Based Solutions) and reuse

Greywater is the wastewater generated in households or office buildings without serious contaminants, such as water from baths, sinks and washing machines. Greywater can be separated from blackwater (water from toilets or kitchens) and then treated on-site for direct reuse in toilets recharge or irrigation. Greywater is a relevant secondary source of water and nutrients. Many studies have analysed the environmental, economic, and energetic benefits of the reuse of greywater [1][2][6][7]. Greywater treatment systems can be introduced in new buildings or in existing buildings with retrofitting measures. There are different greywater treatment systems: diversion and filtration, diversion and treatment (using chemicals), or nature-based solutions (NBS). 

 

Traditional greywater treatment 

Greywater treatment by mechanical systems is typically based on filtration or treatment with chemicals. In filtration, the aim is to remove impurities using filters, with typically a few or several filters in a row in order to guarantee good results. In a purifying process done with chemicals, the aim is to add chemicals that bind impurities, which are then removed from the water, for example, by filters. The mechanical treatment can start with a settlement tank, where coarse particles settle in the bottom of the tank and are then removed. After that, the greywater flows through filters, typically first gravel and sand and then biological filters like wood or peat. Last, if needed, ultraviolet light or chemicals are used to remove potential bacteria. 

Green roof and greywater treatment [7] 

 

Grey water recovery system [10] 

The first filter is a biofilter, which removes the fats and oil. The sand and gravel filter removes small particulates and other impurities. 

 

NBS-based greywater treatment 

Nature-based solutions (NBS) applications are typically constructed wetlands, green roofs, and green walls [1][2][3]. 

 

Several studies have shown that NBS-based greywater treatment has high removal performances [1][5], indicating the suitability of these systems in treating domestic greywater. Planning and design parameters should be carefully considered when implementing NBS; high residence time of water can be especially important for grey water treatment efficiency (see e.g., [1]). To optimize the removal processes in NBS, appropriate plant species and substrates (as growing material), optimal hydraulic parameters, and suitable operating conditions are needed.  

 

The decentralized process consists of several stages: (i) greywater separation, (ii) storage, (iii) treatment by innovative NBS as multi-level green walls/green façades, or by mechanical systems as multi-layer filters and activated carbon, and (iv) final disinfection using commercial O3/UV systems (Ozone and Ultraviolet).  

MATURITY:  

 

Some building-level solutions for grey water treatment and reuse (including nature-based) are commercially available, for example:  

 

  • Aqua Gratis is a technology to capture and reuse the bath and shower water for flushing toilets. The solution is at the stage of initial market commercialisation. The technology development of Aqua Gratis was funded by the EU. 

  • REDI gives a solution for single-family houses, where the treated greywater can be used for watering the garden. 

  • Disinfection can be done with commercially available solutions, e.g. with ozone and ultraviolet (UV) light. 

 

Some examples of pilots are: 

 

  • Greywater treatment with nature-based solutions for indoor or outdoor modules in multi-level green walls/green façades was carried out in Houseful. The project tested also ozone and ultraviolet light for disinfection.  

  • Water management systems and how to monitor and collect water condition information for urban water management platforms were piloted in UNaLab. 

  • Green walls and constructed wetlands were piloted in NAWAMED, with a focus on grey water treatment from a public building, a parking area, and a refugee camp. 

  • A service model for grey water treatment with NBS was tested in Houseful. The service model considers a leasing contract and a payment fee per m3 of water treated and reused. 

 

The nature-based grey water systems have been tested in a rather short period of time (e.g., some months to 1–2 years). Since the operating time of grey water treatment should be closer to 15-20 years, a further full-scale testing is still needed. [1]. 

Passive building design strategies: building orientation, passive heating and cooling

Passive building design means providing passive heating, passive cooling, and natural ventilation to maintain comfortable indoor conditions with no need for energy, by taking advantage of location (climate), orientation, massing, shading, material selection, thermal mass, insulation, internal layout and the positioning of openings to allow the penetration of solar radiation, daylight, and ventilation in the desired amounts [1–8]. When duly applied, passive design strategies are a designer’s first opportunity to increase a building’s energy efficiency, without adding much less front-end cost to a project as compared to active design strategies. Efficient passive design results in smaller heating and cooling loads (so that the building’s mechanical system – if any – can be downsized) and smaller electric loads for lighting through the use of daylighting design strategies.  

 

Beyond local climate, building orientation is a key aspect for passive design. The most energy-efficient designs are facing south or north to allow better solar energy management and better quality of daylighting. Building shape is also very relevant in the design, as an elongated and narrow plant (with south or north facing façade) allows for more of the building to be receive daylight. Shading strategies properly combined with other passive design strategies are also required, especially in hot climates [9,10]. Since the main difficulty in designing natural ventilation systems driven by buoyancy and wind is the simultaneous estimation of ventilation airflows and indoor temperatures, solar chimneys are used [11,12]. A solar chimney is a vertical shaft utilizing solar energy to enhance natural ventilation. 

 

Passive heating can be achieved by capturing the heat from the sun inside the building. Tweaking the window-to-wall ratio and the building exposure to the sun, all the while controlling for the thermal mass, heat flows and insulation allows to effectively store, distribute and retain the heat. The thermal mass defines the capacity to absorb, store and release heat. Heavyweight construction materials like concrete, brick and stone exhibit large thermal mass that can be used to effectively store the heat over peak hours and release it overnight. 

Passive building design. Figure from

 

Passive cooling is a set of design strategies to reduce heat gains and favour heat dispersion. Many methods exist and include using solar shadings as well as designing openings in such a way to allow good ventilation (such as solar chimneys). Shading can either be operable (external louvres, blinds, and deciduous trees) or fixed (e.g. eaves, overhangs, fences and evergreen trees). 

 

 '

Shading devices for north-facing openings. 

Figure from https://www.yourhome.gov.au/passive-design 

 

Passive design strategies are rated in different standards, such as PassivHaus (Passive House), BREEAM, LEED or WELL. 

 

The literature shows that today there are many net-zero, nearly-zero energy, and certified Passive House buildings worldwide, in different climate or geographic regions. Most are in Europe and North America, followed by New Zealand, Kore, Japan, China, and India [1]. Literature also shows that is it possible to achieve at least the Passive House energy standard of performance in all climate zones [13]. 

 

MATURITY:  

 

Although individual passive techniques are already commercial, their holistic implementation in buildings is still at TRL=4-6. 

Floodable park

Flooding, along with related storms, is the most important natural hazard in Europe in terms of human and economic loss [12] and the intensity of flood events has grown in the last years. In urban areas, the waterproofing of soils is incrementally increasing flood risk due to the presence of roads, industries and houses. The intensity and the frequency of flood events will increase in the next years due to global warming and the consequent change in the global water cycle. The resulting increased flood risk poses challenges to society, physical infrastructure and water quality.  
 

Floodable parks can be designed to control flow rates and decrease flow peaks by storing excess floodwater and releasing it slowly once the risk of flooding has passed. They are innovative sustainable urban drainage systems that can play a particularly important role in mitigating potential impacts caused by surface run-off water from rain, flash floods, or from small and medium sized water courses (URBAN GreenUP). 

Corktown Common Park, Toronto, Canada (UrbanToronto, image George Broen College). Source: https://urbantoronto.ca/news/2014/07/waterfront-toronto-officially-opens-corktown-common.  

In this context, the implementation of nature-based solutions, such as floodable parks, instead of traditional grey infrastructure, can provide numerous benefits such as ecological restoration and biodiversity benefits (e.g., shelter for aquatic birds) [1], leisure and recreation spaces for better human health and wellbeing, and support to water cycle (water storage and reuse) [2].  

Confluence Park, Prague, Czechia. Oppla. Source: https://oppla.eu/casestudy/18911 [16] 

 

For example, the park Le Jardin de Niel in Toulouse was designed with multiple functions such as i) leisure for open and public use with rest areas, picnic areas, and playgrounds, and ii) flood prevention using Flexbrick (open or wide-seamed ceramic tiles) to favour soil drainage, preventing drainage water loss, and reducing the impact of floods caused by heavy rain (Urban Nature Atlas). 

Le Jardin de Niel, Toulouse, France. Urban Nature Atlas. Source: https://una.city/nbs/toulouse/niel-garden  

 

Another good example is Enghaveparken – Climate park that has a 22.600 m3 water reservoir to handle Copenhagen’s current and future challenges with water. The rainwater is stored and used for watering plants and trees during dry spells and can even be used to clean the city streets. At the same time, the rainwater is handled above ground in the multifunctional reservoir and a dike. The park offers opportunities for recreation, exercise, and sensuous experiences [17]. 

 

MATURITY: 

 

While appropriate modelling and relevant indexes would be needed to properly plan and design a floodable park, tailoring them to various contexts (see e.g., [3][4]), solutions and models can be considered largely available on the market and mature to be implemented everywhere (Technological Readiness Level 8-9). 

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Last update: November 17, 2025

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Circular economy
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