THE CIRCULARITY
INFORMATICS LAB

At the University of Georgia | Jambeck Research Group
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The Circularity Assessment Protocol (CAP) is a hub and spoke model that provides a snapshot of a city’s circularity that can provide data for local, regional, or national decision‐making to reduce leakage of waste (e.g., single‐use plastic) into the environment and increase circular materials management.

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LEAKAGE
What waste ends up in the environment? How and why is it getting there?
INPUT
What products are sold in the community and where do they originate?
END OF CYCLE
How is waste disposed? What is the fate of waste once it is properly discarded? How is it treated?
COMMUNITY
What conversations are happening and what are the stakeholders’ attitudes and perceptions?
COLLECTION
How much and what types of waste are generated? How much is collected and what infrastructure exists?
PRODUCT
DESIGN
What materials, formats, and innovations are found in products, particularly packaging?
USE
What are the community trends around use and reuse of product types?

INFLUENCERS

NGOs | Academia
Citizens | Industry
Government
INPUT
What products are sold in the community and where do they originate?
Community
What conversations are happening and what are the stakeholders’ attitudes and perceptions?
Product Design
What materials, formats, and innovations are found in products, particularly packaging?
USE
What are the community trends around use and reuse of product types?
Collection
How much and what types of waste are generated? How much is collected and what infrastructure exists?
End of Cycle
How is waste disposed? What is the fate of waste once it is properly discarded? How is it treated?
Leakage
What waste ends up in the environment? How and why is it getting there?
We collect data in collaboration with local partners around the world. So far, that's
14 countries and 51 cities with more to come

INFORMATION SHARING

The local community's knowledge and expertise is honored. Partners and teams build capacity through learning methods and collaboration. Debris Tracker is an important tool that is used by researchers and the community alike. Open data is important to the process.

DATA ANALYTICS

Data for each city's CAP is analyzed and co-owned by the researchers, city and sponsors. Trends across cities, countries and regions can illuminate global narratives and influencing factors.

EMPOWERING COMMUNITIES

Communities are empowered by local and global CAP data to inform their decisions about what is working - or where and how to intervene to increase circularity. Communities that participate in CAP can better define resource needs and participate in knowledge exchange.

SYSTEMS CHANGE

Information is power that can result in community-based systems change, measured by the Circularity Informatics Lab.

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CURRENT STUDENTS

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