The document titled "Circularity for Secure and Sustainable Products and Materials: A Draft Strategic Framework" is a Request for Information (RFI) issued by the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE). The RFI aims to gather feedback from stakeholders including industry, academia, and government agencies on the draft strategic framework for increasing the circularity of products and materials. Circularity in this context refers to keeping products and materials in use for as long as possible, thereby reducing environmental impact and resource consumption.

The purpose of this RFI is to ensure that EERE's investments in research and development are well-aligned with the needs and opportunities in the field of product and material circularity. The feedback collected will influence how EERE prioritizes its resources and initiatives, addressing both technological and non-technical challenges to advancing circularity. While this RFI is not a funding opportunity, responses will guide potential future funding announcements (FOAs) and help shape EERE's strategy for achieving its objectives in decarbonization, job creation, environmental justice, and the security of U.S. supply chains.

The draft strategic framework focuses on several areas where circularity can have significant impacts, including critical materials, plastics, metals, and construction materials. EERE is particularly interested in feedback on how to prioritize its investments and identify the most significant challenges and enablers for increasing circularity. Questions posed in the RFI span categories such as strategy framework, technical challenges, business model innovation, scaling technologies, and community impact.

Organizations are invited to submit their input electronically by December 16, 2024. Responses should focus on specific questions posed by the RFI, which cover a wide range of topics including the framework's mission and vision, technical advancements needed, market and policy barriers, and how to engage communities in the transition to a circular economy.