What are the most innovative strategies for cities to adopt circular economies?

1 Urban metabolism

Urban metabolism is a framework that analyzes how cities consume, transform, and dispose of resources, such as energy, water, food, and materials. It helps to identify the flows and stocks of resources within urban systems, and the impacts they have on the environment and society. By measuring and monitoring urban metabolism, cities can assess their resource efficiency, identify opportunities for improvement, and design interventions to optimize their circularity.

2 Resource recovery

One of the key strategies for cities to adopt circular economies is to recover and reuse resources that would otherwise be wasted. This can include recovering energy from waste, capturing and treating wastewater, composting organic waste, and recycling or repairing materials. Resource recovery can help cities to reduce their dependence on external inputs, lower their greenhouse gas emissions, and create new economic opportunities. For example, Amsterdam has a circular innovation program that supports projects that recover resources from waste streams, such as bio-based plastics, biogas, and fertilizers.

3 Sharing and service models

Another strategy for cities to adopt circular economies is to promote sharing and service models that enable access to products and assets without ownership. This can include sharing platforms, product-as-a-service, leasing, renting, and subscription models. Sharing and service models can help cities to reduce the demand for new products, extend the lifespan of existing products, and optimize the utilization of assets. For example, Seoul has a sharing city initiative that supports various sharing schemes, such as car-sharing, bike-sharing, tool-sharing, and co-working spaces.

5 Circular procurement

A fourth strategy for cities to adopt circular economies is to implement circular procurement policies and practices that favor circular products and services over linear ones. This can include setting circular criteria and standards, engaging with suppliers and contractors, and monitoring and evaluating the outcomes. Circular procurement can help cities to influence the market, create demand for circular solutions, and demonstrate leadership and commitment. For example, Paris has a circular procurement strategy that aims to increase the share of circular purchases in its public procurement by 2030.

6 Stakeholder collaboration

A fifth strategy for cities to adopt circular economies is to foster stakeholder collaboration across sectors, scales, and disciplines. This can include engaging with citizens, businesses, NGOs, academia, and other levels of government. Stakeholder collaboration can help cities to co-create and co-implement circular solutions, leverage diverse expertise and resources, and build trust and support. For example, Glasgow has a circular economy network that brings together stakeholders from different sectors to share best practices, identify challenges, and develop projects.