Methodological and tool-based decision support framework for a sustainable end-of-life management of products

The pursuit of a Circular Economy (CE) has gained prominence among policymakers and society, driven by the urgent need to reduce environmental degradation and resource depletion. The CE places emphasis on the end-of-life (EOL) phase of products and the choice of management strategies, which range from non-circular options such as landfilling to more circular approaches including reuse, recycling, and recovery. This paper proposes a methodological framework, supported by practical tools, to guide the selection of EOL strategies that extend beyond circularity to embrace a holistic approach to sustainability. The framework consists of four stages, each accompanied by appropriate tools, and assesses options across the entire product lifecycle, taking into account the three dimensions of sustainability: environmental, economic, and social. Applied to a case study involving laundry detergent packaging, the framework revealed that, in certain cases, strategies with lower levels of circularity can lead to better sustainability outcomes than more circular alternatives. These findings challenge the commonly held belief that higher circularity inherently represents the best choice. By integrating life cycle thinking and a multidimensional assessment that considers the three pillars of sustainability—environmental, economic, and social—this research highlights the importance of rigorous, context-sensitive analysis in end-of-life decision-making. The proposed framework offers a practical and adaptable tool for stakeholders seeking to implement sustainable EOL strategies in line with CE principles. • End-of-life management approach choice is a multi-criteria decision-making problem. • A solution with the highest level of circularity is not always the most sustainable. • The sustainability criterion should take precedence over the circularity criterion. • All life-cycle phases and all dimensions of sustainability must be considered. • An operational decision support framework is proposed to assist in selecting the most sustainable option.