The objective of this paper is to analyze the extent to which the system of indicators that is used in the Monitoring Framework for the transition to the circular economy (CE) is efficient and relevant in their contribution to the sustainable development of European communities. The fundaments of the transition framework and the main characteristics of the circularity indicators are presented. A critical review was performed in order to fulfill the objective of analyzing the current indicators. It is concluded that the indicators in the current framework are (as a selection from a very broad range of indicators theoretically proposed and with estimated practical applicability) limited from the perspective of circularity only to waste generation and recycling processes containing recyclable materials, without including important circularity indicators related to the prolonging and extending the life cycle of products and materials. This paper proposes and defines such an indicator, based on the consideration of the fundamental scalars describing economy, mass, energy, time, and value, respectively. The indicator is described and its applicability in all the phases of the economy is estimated.

Literature so far illustrates different approaches to achieving circular economy (CE). It is increasingly important that every industry explores opportunities to transitioning towards CE doing it through process streamlining or via uses of technology to transform/exchange the resources. We recognize the difficulties faced by researchers in consolidating key aspects to CE, due to still fragmented knowledge base. To clearly identify these aspects is somewhat difficult due to the fragmented knowledge over applications of circular economy. However, any holistic approach is possible by considering the performance of the growth (in our temporal visible world) and that of innovation and creation as a result of the introspection of the temporal invisible world (thought and inspiration), in terms of three fundamental scalars in nature, mass, energy, and time transformed by natural action and human action, in order to define the circularity for any group, category, and type of product. We consider that the effect of any action should be evaluated by determining the most probable results and the dynamic of any process (using statistics), by considering the transformation of the three fundamental scalars. This article presents a consonant approach of the economy, aiming to optimize the intervention of humans in the natural environment and its performance and having the scope of the integration of the human actions in the natural cycles, to secure sustainability.