The Circular Economy Outcome Metric
This document introduces the *Circular Economy Outcome Metric* (CE Outcome Metric), a proposed standard for measuring circular economy outcomes within the property development sector. Designed by LETI, CIRCuIT, and UCL through a collaborative hackathon, the metric aims to create a single, comprehensive measurement that clients can use to evaluate and report the environmental performance of building projects. The CE Outcome Metric is divided into two versions: *Whole Life* and *Upfront*, each tailored for specific stages of project assessment, enabling applications in both initial target setting and comprehensive reporting.
At its core, the CE Outcome Metric quantifies environmental externalities as a financial cost per square metre (£/m²), integrating the material *Circularity Factor*, which converts the environmental impact of each material used into a monetary restitution cost. This method leverages Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) and builds upon existing frameworks, such as the Dutch MPG system, to ensure robust and objective measurement criteria.
The document details the metric’s development process, its underlying formulas, and examples of practical application. It also discusses short- and long-term goals for further refinement, including the expansion of environmental impact weighting factors specific to the UK and the establishment of a central database to support consistency across projects. This work reflects a significant step toward aligning construction practices with circular economy principles, providing a pathway for measurable and accountable sustainability in the built environment.
