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Circle Economy and ICLEI have partnered up to initiate the go to knowledge hub of case studies about the circular economy in cities. The Cities Collection is a repository of case studies that demonstrate the role of cities in the circular transition, and includes policies, business cases and research articles. Cases in the Collection flow into an ecosystem of digital products which support users in transitioning cities to circularity, for example [Ganbatte](https://ganbatte.world/cities/) and <a href="https://circulars.iclei.org/" target="_blank">ICLEI Circulars</a>, both part of the <a href="https://circulars.iclei.org/circle-lab-for-cities/" target = _blank">Circle Lab for Cities Programme.</a>




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Circular Cities

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Circular food systems entail that the food is produced regeneratively and, where appropriate, locally. Food and packaging waste are designed out entirely, while healthy, low-impact diets are promoted and easy to access. 

[Circle Economy](https://www.circle-economy.com/) is a not-for-profit organisation working to accelerate the circular transition. Through the *Circularity Gap Reporting Initiative*, our mission is to deliver an annual global Circularity Metric that measures the state of the world economy and identifies key levers to transition to global circularity. With nature as our guide, we work alongside cross-sector stakeholders from academia, businesses, NGOs and governments to provide a powerful combination of practical and scalable interventions that transform circular opportunities into realities. 

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Circular Food

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Limes and lemons - Photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash

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This collection features a selection of the initiatives listed on the Québec Circulaire platform.

Québec Circulaire is one of the flagship measures of the Pôle québécois de concertation sur l’économie circulaire (Quebec centre for consultation on the circular economy), a voluntary grouping of leaders from various backgrounds to accelerate the transition to the circular economy in Quebec. The information that emerges about circular economy is often fragmented by types of strategies, regions, people involved and sectors of activity. For a real change in the economic model to take place, it seemed essential to create a convergence forum for the exchange of information. Therefore, Québec Circulaire's mission is to bring together the variety of initiatives, tools, and expertise related to circular economy in Québec that are currently dispersed and will be multiplying in the coming years. 

Having begun its transition to circular economy in 2014, Québec serves as a pioneer in North America. By shining a light on the collective impact of individual and targeted initiatives, the circular economy can constitute a powerful lever for change.

This collection of case studies aims to bring together Quebec people involved in this transition, alongside facilitating access to initiatives and knowledge developed elsewhere in the world, and disseminating Quebec best practices internationally.

To learn more about Québec's initiatives to accelerate the transition to a circular economy, visit www.quebeccirculaire.org.

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Québec Circulaire

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Starter Kit collection

Policy case

Impact on the availability of resources as well as their effect on living organisms, ecosystems, and components of the environment.

Ecological Impact

Impacts on the social fabric of the community and well-being of the individuals and families.

Social Impact

Impacts on the financial condition of a company, as well as the the economicconditions of its stakeholders and on economic systems at local, national, andglobal levels.

Economic Impact

Impact on increased knowledge and understanding as a result of the case study

Increase Awareness

Contribution to social parity, or impact on social disparity

Equality

Direct and indirect reduction in economic costs

Cost Savings

Direct and indirect effects that increase revenues or the potential for new revenues, for example from new products, customer segments, partnerships or business models

Revenue Potential

Minimise waste through diversion: Instead of sending waste to landfill, it is redirected into other industrial processes for handling, treatment, recycling, recovery, or reuse in various forms. 

Minimise waste through design: At the outset of a process of project, plan and design such that there is zero waste or minimal waste during production, use, and at end of life. 

Minimise Waste (SDG12)

Reduced use and withdrawal of water and rate of recycling and reuse of water

Save Water (SDG6)

Producing agricultural products and processing them into food and beverageproducts for consumption

Agri/Food

Producing and gathering crop and animal products from land and water through farming, hunting, and fishing

Agriculture

Processing and producing food and beverages for consumption

Food and Beverage

Work together throughout the supply chain, internally within organisations and with the public sector and communities to increase transparency and create joint value

Team up to create joint value

Engage with the local community where facilities or offices are located

Community collaboration

Working together with the community and engaging them in the company operations

Joint product development

'Manage' influences the use and function of physical and material elements within the urban environment. 

Manage

'Mobilise' sets the direction of and builds momentum towards long-term change, while also determining how this direction is determined and governed.

Mobilise

Govern the Transition

Participatory governance mechanisms

Site planning for circular material use

 Public Procurement

Redesign systems to lay the foundation for circular activities and enable the transition to a circular economy 

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Rethink

High-level changes to policy and practice (such as taxation systems, investment and procurement guidelines and criteria) that disincentivize activities that perpetuate linear economic systems, as well as vision-setting (goals, roadmaps) to catalyze
action on circularity across the city

Eliminate linear incentives and set goals and incentives for circularity

Create and support online platforms and physical spaces for sale, sharing and exchange of spaces, items and materials.

Facilitate second-hand markets, sharing & exchange platforms

Local governments can act as the first movers, and accelerate the transition towards a more circular food system through integrating circular criteria into public procurement policies for food. Purchasing decisions by local governments, -such as buying food for canteens in municipal offices and schools-, have a large economic influence in the region, and create important market demand for circular businesses and products.

Criteria within public procurement could, for example, prioritise regionally and organically produced foods, encourage the use of recyclable packaging and assess food waste prevention. Low-carbon and plant-based menus could also be developed. Used strategically, public procurement can be used to drive innovation in the sector to meet these circular demands,for example, new circular cultivation techniques and technologies, and low-impact food and packaging products.


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🍏  Circular public procurement of food products and services

When edible food is wasted, this wastes not only the food product itself, but also all of the energy, resources and emissions that were required to produce the food. 

Surplus food from food services, manufacturing, and retail operations should be used at its highest and best value. Platforms (both on- and offline) can help to connect surplus food between, for example, households, retail, food services and manufacturing. This may result in increased revenues for businesses, and lower landfill costs. 

Redistributing food surplus is not a solution to address the root causes of food insecurity, and establishing reliance on this stream by vulnerable communities can bring problems in the future. Nevertheless, food surplus may in some instances be appropriately redirected to social enterprises, for example, food banks.  

Local governments may work with local businesses who link surplus food from restaurants and supermarkets to edible reuse by citizens. Other businesses may process and redirect food streams to animals who can in turn feed on it. Awareness raising, platforms, and dedicated space in the city can support these operations.


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🍏  Redistribute food surplus

Impacts

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Industries

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A framework of policy instruments that enabled and encourage the transition to the circular economy

Policy Instruments

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A framework of policy instruments that enable and stimulate the transition to the circular economy

The principles of a circular economy concern designing out waste, regenerating ecosystems and keeping items in use. Decoupling the economy from material flows—improving the rate of resource productivity faster than the economic growth rate—is also a consistent guide. By evolving with the growing number of applications of circular economy principles, and consolidating these strategies across thematic areas, Circle Economy’s Key Elements Framework (KE) renders the elements of the circular economy salient and serves as a basis to derive contextual strategies and interventions. 


The Framework consists of:
- Core Elements: Activities directly handling product or material flows; and uniquely,
- Enabling Elements: those that remove obstacles for core actors.


Key elements of the circular economy

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Circle Economy's framework of strategies and activities that define the circular economy

The Circular City Actions Framework provides urban changemakers with five complementary strategies they can use to start working towards a more circular system. 

The framework is action-based to provide users with concrete strategic directions and showcase the desired outcomes of each strategy. 
The framework consists of five complementary **strategies**, under which **sub-strategies** provide further detail. Finally, each sub-strategy consists of a diversity of tangible **solutions** which are framed in relation to key thematic areas. 

Note: solutions are currently focused on:
- 🍏 **Food systems**
- 🏢  **Built environment**
- 👕📱  **Consumer goods**
- ⚡ **Energy Systems**
- 🚌 **Mobility Systems**
- 💧 **Water Systems**

More thematic areas are coming soon...

'Click through each of the five strategy cards below to explore the framework and circular economy case studies in more depth!'



This framework was developed in collaboration with ICLEI, Metabolic and Ellen MacArthur Foundation with support from the MAVA Foundation. Read more about it [here]( https://circulars.iclei.org/action-framework/). 



Circular City Actions Framework

An action-based framework for local governments working towards circular cities

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Based on the work of [Bocken et al. (2016)](https://www.researchgate.net/publication/309699661_Product_design_and_business_model_strategies_for_a_circular_economy), the Four Flows Framework serves as a simple framework for managing resource flows in a circular economy by using less (Narrow), using for longer (Slow), using again (Cycle), and using clean, regenerative materials and energy (Regenerate).

These different principles of circular economy can be applied to our socioeconomic metabolism: we can design stocks like buildings, infrastructure, machinery, and vehicles to be rich resource mines for the future, and design manufactured goods and consumables to be cycled and made regenerative. Furthermore, the focus must also centre on getting more value out of fewer materials. Achieving the aims of a circular economy—minimising material use, regenerating the Earth, and preventing material losses—can be done through these four key strategies mentioned above.

Source: Circle Economy. (2023). *[The circularity gap report 2023](https://www.circularity-gap.world/2023)* (p.22). Amsterdam: Circle Economy. 

Four Flows Framework

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  On estime les pertes alimentaires à 2,2 millions de tonnes par an au Canada. Les agriculteurs de Laval ne sont pas épargnés par le gaspillage alimentaire comme l’a démontré le portrait environnemental de Solinov paru en janvier 2019 à ce sujet. La faim quant elle n'a jamais aussi présente dans nos villes et nos campagnes. L'augmentation du prix de aliments creuse encore plus les inégalités et accentuent l'urgence d'agir pour nourrir les individus avec des produits frais, sains et nutritifs.  Lors de la phase d’étude de marché, ce sont 130 organismes communautaires et près de 200 professionnels qui ont démontré un fort intérêt pour ces marchandises rejetées pour des raisons économiques ou esthétiques. L'association entre le CRE de Laval et la plateforme Arrivage offre pour la première fois la possibilité de diffuser rapidement les surplus disponibles.

L'accès direct à plus de 1000 organismes et professionnels vise à créer des opportunités réciproques pour les producteurs qui pourront générer des revenus, pour les professionnels qui accèderont à des produits frais à prix cassés et enfin pour les organismes en sécurité alimentaires qui bénéficieront d'aliments plus frais à petits prix et en dons. Des fruits et légumes encore bons. Sur les fermes, les causes de pertes de denrées sont multiples. En créant des liens plus forts entre les producteurs et les marchés professionnels, le projet pilote vise à faire circuler l'information de façons plus directe entre l'offre et la demande en aliments frais.  Liquidation directe du producteur La plateforme Arrivage et une ligne téléphonique d'urgence permettent aux producteurs de réagir vite afin de proposer leurs fruits et légumes rapidement à un grand nombre d'entreprises et organismes à proximité. Prix cassés (Pros et OBNL) Faites de bonnes affaires en aidant les producteurs à écouler leurs stocks avec des offres de liquidation allant de -30% à -80%. Dons (OBNL uniquement) Les producteurs proposent de vous donner leurs surplus avant qu'il ne soit trop tard. Multipliez vos chance si vous pouvez vous déplacer et faire un reçu de don. Producteurs, professionnels et organismes: participez !  Ce projet est exclusivement à destination des professionnels et des organismes à but non lucratifs: restaurants, traiteurs, services alimentaires, commerces de détails, institutions, transformateurs alimentaires, organismes en sécurité alimentaire...           
    
    
 
  
        Obtenir le maximum de réponse a notre sondage pour connaitre au mieux les besoins Développer des fonctionnalités Promotions et Urgent permettant aux producteurs de proposer un rabais ou des dons sur leurs surplus : en ligne depuis mars 2022. Engager la communauté : les entretiens individuels avec les producteurs et les organismes communautaires nous ont permis de mieux comprendre leur réalité et de créer un noyau solide de participants, qui seront nos ambassadeurs. Réduire les surplus en temps de pénurie et offrir à manger a des personnes en situation d'insécurité alimentaire plutôt que les surplus soient bio compostés et laissés au champs.
 Approvisonnement & consommation responsableValorisation L'engouement est réel car nous avons collecté 172 réponses d'entreprises privées ainsi que 150 organismes communautaires de tout le Québec, dont 94,44% intéressés par l’achat de surplus auprès des producteurs locaux. L'impact sur notre communauté est le suivant :  Producteur : développement sur la plateforme Arrivage de fonctionnalités Promotions et Urgent permettant aux producteurs de proposer un rabais ou des dons sur leurs surplus. Organismes communautaires et OSBL : accès a des produits frais et locaux pour des bénéficiaires en situation d'insécurité alimentaire. Restaurateurs et épiceries : acheter des produits locaux arrivés à maturité ou non calibrés, à prix compétitif pour les transformer. Consommateurs : avoir accès plus régulièrement à des produits locaux. Sociétal et environnemental : valorisation des surplus grace au travail des restaurateurs et transformateurs. Réduction du gaspillage alimentaire.
 Notre projet implique l'ensemble des producteurs de Laval, qui pourront bénéficier du projet Opération dernière chance en vendant ou faisant des dons de leurs surplus agricoles en circuit court. Ils ont ainsi accès à notre réseau de plus de 600 restaurateurs et épiceries et 150 organismes communautaires du Québec. Les budgets d'achats des restaurateurs, épiceries et organismes communautaires pourront etre injectés dans l'économie locale et soutenir ainsi les circuits courts. Principale(s) ressource(s) concernée(s) 

Laval

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Conseil régional de l'environnement de Laval

<p>A local food network can tackle the food waste challenge while providing a wide range of environmental, social and economic benefits.</p>