Terra Matters, an economic interest group created in Luxembourg, looks to push circularity forward with a data sheet that helps companies and consumers know more about the sustainability of their products.
The circular economic model, based on reusing, repairing, and recycling existing materials, is slowly becoming more popular in Luxembourg. Because it is the opposite of the linear system created by humans, where we buy, use, replace, and throw out, it doesn’t just thrive on cooperation, it demands it.
This is the story of Terra Matters, an economic interest group that finds its roots in the ministry of economy. The executive body found that there was a lack of information about how much of which materials businesses had.
There is a tool that incorporates information about components in products, the Material Safety Data Sheet. The ministry’s idea was to create a similar instrument that extends to all circularity features. They hired +Impakt, a consulting company that aims to raise awareness about the circular economic model and contribute to its development. The final product was titled the Product Circularity Data Sheet (PCDS) and was launched by the ministry of economy and the chamber of commerce.
“It grew to a point where the ministry of economy said, ‘We cannot go any further. Now we need a proper company to start commercialising the solution’. That’s when Terra Matters was created.”
Jérôme Dierickx, director of Terra Matters
Dierickx was appointed as director of Terra Matters in July 2023. Previously occupying the role of deputy director of the fonds du logement, he says his interest in social and sustainable matters grew during his career as he began to be involved in aspects like sales, operations, and strategy.
He describes the PCDS as a fingerprint of a product that shows its basic circularity features. It is based on a series of questions that revolve around what the item is made of, whether recyclable materials have been used, whether it can be repaired by anybody, or whether it requires a skilled professional to do so. All of this aims to tell the company or the customer what can be done with the product after it is broken or at the end of its shelf life.
Going global and circularity go hand in hand
Terra Matters plans on having a platform for the PCDS that businesses will use. Having the chamber of commerce as its partner alongside the ministry of economy helps to establish links with companies outside of Luxembourg. And that is a key part of having a global outreach, which is fundamental to their strategy.
An ISO norm covering the PCDS is expected to be introduced in 2024. At that point, Terra Matters will be able to take a big step forward, but its success will be decided by how well it does to convince businesses to get on board.
“If you want to break even, Luxembourg is not going to be sufficient. And if tomorrow, let’s say, a corporation is present in Luxembourg, they’re going to tell us, ‘Yes, but my suppliers are all over the world.’ We don’t have any other choice but to target more globally.”
Jérôme Dierickx, director of Terra Matters
