Measurement & Reporting (Cradle to Cradle, BREEAM)

Cradle to Cradle, BREEAM & Circular Metrics

To drive a circular economy in office furniture, it’s not enough to simply do the right thing — we must also be able to prove it. That’s where measurement and reporting come in.

Whether you're targeting green building certifications, writing ESG reports, or comparing suppliers, this page helps you understand the frameworks and metrics that matter in advanced circularity tracking.

Why Measurement Matters

Without clear measurement, it’s easy to:

• Fall into greenwashing

• Miss opportunities for improvement

• Make procurement decisions based on marketing, not facts

Reliable reporting supports:

• Certifications (e.g. BREEAM, WELL, LEED)

• Carbon accounting

• Circular procurement evaluation

• Environmental claims validation

Key Circular Certifications & Standards

Cradle to Cradle Certified®

A rigorous, product-level certification based on:

• Material health

• Product circularity

• Renewable energy and carbon management

• Water stewardship

• Social fairness

Used by top office furniture brands to demonstrate long-term sustainability.

BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method)

Europe’s leading green building certification. Furniture impacts several categories:

• Responsible procurement of materials

• Resource efficiency and reuse

• Indoor air quality (linked to material health)

Projects using circular furniture can score highly in waste, materials, and health categories.

ISO 14001 & ISO 20400

• ISO 14001: Environmental management systems

• ISO 20400: Sustainable procurement guidance

Both help build internal structures for circularity tracking and responsible sourcing.

Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs)

EPDs provide independently verified data on a product’s lifecycle impacts:

• Carbon footprint

• Energy and water use

• Waste and recyclability

Ask furniture suppliers to provide EPDs or lifecycle analysis (LCA) data to support decision-making.

What to Measure

Case Snapshot: Reporting Success Example

A global law firm used circular procurement metrics during an office refurbishment:

• Tracked 85% reuse rate across furniture

• Collected EPDs from 3 key suppliers

• Achieved BREEAM “Excellent” rating for interior fit-out

Result: Data supported their annual ESG report and unlocked a sustainability-linked loan discount.

Key Takeaways

• Measurement is essential for validating and scaling circular economy efforts.

• Certifications like Cradle to Cradle and BREEAM provide structured frameworks.

• EPDs and lifecycle data help compare products accurately.



• Clear metrics support procurement, reporting, and green building certification.

Put your knowledge to the test and see how well you understand the tools, certifications, and metrics used to track and report circular performance.