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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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Policy case

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)

Producing building materials and finished and semi-finished building products for construction

Construction Materials and Products

Water supply, sewerage, waste management and remediation activities

Give products and parts another life after their end-of-use

Maximise lifetime of products after use

Reuse, repurpose, and recycle waste streams within other industries

Valorise waste streams - open loop

 Spatial Planning

Use longer and more often by extending and intensifying use of existing resources, products, spaces and infrastructure

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Reuse

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

The built environment, including housing, commercial buildings, and the necessary infrastructure for mobility, is essential for our livelihoods, but:
- the extraction of minerals used to produce construction materials is responsible for a quarter of global land use change,
- approximately 40% of global GHG emissions can be attributed to buildings’ construction, use and demolition, and
- construction and demolition processes drive nearly one-third of all material consumption. 

Making the built environment more circular must prioritise a heavy reduction in material use—while also closing the loop on materials and bringing secondary and renewable material choices to the fore. Our four key solutions for the built environment are:
- Make the most of what already exists: Make the most of existing materials by reusing, repurposing, upgrading and renovating following circular approaches. Where new builds are needed, use secondary materials and be as efficient as possible with urban planning solutions that follow circular design principles so that buildings can be reused, repurposed, and easily disassembled in the future.
- Be as energy efficient as possible: From the design phase, utilise circular strategies to create material- and energy efficient buildings. Couple these designs with a rollout of clean energy solutions, and prioritise energy-efficient appliances and retrofitting. 
- Utilise secondary materials: Maximise the high-value reuse of buildings and components where possible. Ideally, enable the utilisation of construction and demolition outputs and ensure that as much of it as possible is recycled to avoid the need for virgin materials, such as sand and gravel.
- Prioritise circular materials and approaches: Transition to using renewable wood, timber or cross-laminated timber instead of steel and concrete, or move to other locally available materials. Utilise mainstream modular construction and prioritise lightweight frames and structures to reduce cement and steel use, as well as green roofs where possible.



🏢 Built Environment

Slow strategies aim to keep materials in use for as long as possible, for example through design for durability and repairability. A more circular economy is also a slower one: materials, components, and products—and even buildings and infrastructure—that we lock in stocks are made to last. This will lower material demand in the long run, in essence also serving to narrow resource flows.

Slow

Cycle strategies aim to cycle and reuse materials at their highest value: they maximise the volume of secondary materials re-entering the economy, ultimately minimising the need for virgin material inputs and therefore also narrowing flows. Of course, virgin materials will always be needed to a degree: all materials degrade and can’t be cycled infinitely, use energy, and require blending with virgin materials to maintain strength and functionality.

Cycle

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

Nace Sectors

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

Thematic Areas

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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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Construction material accounts for 38% of the waste stream in the Houston area. The Building Materials Reuse Warehouse, a component of the City of Houston Solid Waste Management Department, benefits the community by providing space for excess building materials that would otherwise be dumped in local landfills. We accept material from individuals, supply companies, and builders, and make it freely available for reuse by any non-profit organization. The Reuse Warehouse is funded in part by a grant from the Houston Galveston Area Council, a region-wide voluntary association of local governments in the 13-county Gulf Coast Planning region of Texas. Why does Houston need a Reuse Warehouse?
More than one-third of the waste stream in the Houston area is made up of construction and demolition material, much of which could be diverted and re-used. By storing the materials until they can be used by community groups, the Warehouse will keep these valuable resources out of our local landfills.
The City of Houston Building Materials Reuse Warehouse is just one of the local organizations working to keep reusable building materials out of the landfills and to put them into the hands of those that can use them. 
While at this time the Reuse Warehouse is only able to pass on building materials to non-profit organizations, many of these local organizations make materials available to individuals.
HOW DOES IT WORK? The Reuse Warehouse is free for making donations and for non-profits taking material.
LOCATION
 9003 N. Main / Houston, TX 77022

  View CoH Solid Waste Management Dept. Disposal and Recycling Facilities in a larger map
 I-45, exit on Crosstimbers, turning west on Crosstimbers. Turn North on N. Main, and the Warehouse will be on the left just before E. Whitney St.  The entrance to the Warehouse is on the Harvard Street side of the property.

Information on Reuse Warehouse procedures (.pdf) HOURS OF OPERATION
 Tuesday - Friday:  8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Every 2nd and 4th Saturday of the month 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Closed: Sunday - Monday Contact Information: 281-814-3324 reuse.warehouse@houstontx.gov

MAKING A DONATION The Reuse Warehouse only accepts building material that is in suitable condition for reuse.  The Reuse Warehouse reserves the right to decline the acceptance of any material.  If possible, please call 281-814-3324 in advance to describe what you will be bringing.  
EXAMPLES INCLUDE Cabinets, copper, doors, electrical fixtures and equipment, fans, flooring material, glass, gutters, hardware, lighting, lumber, metal, mirrors, pipe, plumbing, plywood, roofing material, screens, sheetrock, sinks, showers, trim, tubs, wall coverings, or windows (No paint!)
ACCESSING MATERIAL FROM THE WAREHOUSE TO USE FOR YOUR ORGANIZATION All the material in our inventory is available for free, on a first come – first serve basis.  Just bring your proof of non-profit status.  Come by often and shop!!!
Texas Environmental Excellence Awards Winner: The Phoenix Commotion
Huntsville, TX based home builder, Phoenix Commotion has built quite a reputation for itself all while being friendly to the Texas Environment.  Phoenix Commotion was recently the recipient of the 2010 TEEA Award in the Small Business Category.   Organizations that help reduce the amount of construction debris headed to the landfill like Phoenix Commotion, are what the Reuse Warehouse was founded for in 2009.  Join the Ton Club! Looking to keep track of the weight of materials that you are diverting from the landfills? Bring materials to the Reuse Warehouse at the ends of your projects and watch as you move into the 1, 5, 10 and 25 ton clubs.
If you would like to be added to the Reuse Warehouse’s inventory and project update e-mails, please e-mail reuse.warehouse@houstontx.gov with the subject: Add to e-mail list.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Pickup:
Do you offer a residential or builders (commercial construction) pickup program? We do not offer pick up of materials at this time.  Since we have limited staff, the Reuse Warehouse also asks that you assist with the unloading of your donated materials
Donations:
Do you have a forklift to assist with unloading donated materials? Yes.
Will I receive a donation receipt? Yes.
Shopping:
How does the shopping process work?
 Please call 281-814-3324 before visiting the warehouse for the first time to verify that your organization qualifies to collect material. Bring a copy of your organization’s IRS 501c3 Determination letter or verify with a staff member that your organization’s letter is on file. Fill out the material collection and liability forms. Take a look in the warehouse and select the items you like. Bring your items to the checkout desk. Weigh your items on our floor scale. (Items are weighed to help us keep track of the total tonnage you are helping to keep out of the landfills each year!) Once the weight of your items has been reported to the staff, you are free to load up your materials and depart. Once you have put the materials to use in a project, we ask that you e-mail a picture of the project to reuse.warehouse@houstontx.gov.
 

Houston

City of Houston

<p>Construction and building material, from doors, electrical fixtures and equipment, to lighting, lumber, metal, plumbing, plywood, sinks and showers, accounts for 38% of the waste stream in the Houston area. The Building Materials Reuse Warehouse benefits the community by providing space for excess building materials that would otherwise be dumped in local landfills. It has sparked a reuse community across Houston and helped to divert 3,000 tons of material from landfills. Houston’s Reuse Warehouse is an exemplary implementation of a community programme that incentivises not just material reuse but also community engagement to exchange ideas and projects for increased sustainability in construction projects.</p>