small_iclei.png

thumbnail_iclei.png

iclei.png

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>

large_Circular-City-Actions-Framework-infographic-scaled_gray background.jpeg

medium_Circular-City-Actions-Framework-infographic-scaled_gray background.jpeg

small_Circular-City-Actions-Framework-infographic-scaled_gray background.jpeg

thumbnail_Circular-City-Actions-Framework-infographic-scaled_gray background.jpeg

Circular-City-Actions-Framework-infographic-scaled_gray background.jpeg

Circular Cities

large_eugene-kuznetsov-swmakc2l4EM-unsplash_2.jpeg

medium_eugene-kuznetsov-swmakc2l4EM-unsplash_2.jpeg

small_eugene-kuznetsov-swmakc2l4EM-unsplash_2.jpeg

thumbnail_eugene-kuznetsov-swmakc2l4EM-unsplash_2.jpeg

eugene-kuznetsov-swmakc2l4EM-unsplash_2.jpeg

Policy case

Impact on the quantity or quality of jobs, and shifts in the labour market

Jobs

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)

Contributing to the improvement of biodiversity including species diversity, total number of protected species, and ecosystem health

Biodiversity

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

Agri/Food

Ensure renewable, reusable, non-toxic resources are utilised as materials and energy in an efficient way

Prioritise regenerative resources

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

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

Mobilise

Visions and Ambitions

Public-civil partnerships

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

large_5R_Rethink.png

medium_5R_Rethink.png

small_5R_Rethink.png

thumbnail_5R_Rethink.png

5R_Rethink.png

Rethink

**Harmonize with nature** by promoting infrastructure, production systems and sourcing that allows natural ecosystems to thrive




large_5R_Regenerate.png

medium_5R_Regenerate.png

small_5R_Regenerate.png

thumbnail_5R_Regenerate.png

5R_Regenerate.png

Regenerate

Eliminate waste by maximizing the recovery of resources at the end of the use phase so that they can be reintroduced into production processes


large_5R_Recover.png

medium_5R_Recover.png

small_5R_Recover.png

thumbnail_5R_Recover.png

5R_Recover.png

Recover

Facilitate cross-collaboration by engaging city departments, industries and businesses on ambitious, closed-loop circular projects.

Support closed-loop systems and cross-sectoral synergies

Includes measures that protect and enhance ecosystems and biodiversity both within and beyond city boundaries, as well as actions to restore degraded ecosystems.


Protect and restore local ecosystems

Ensure that household and business waste is collected and appropriately sorted (by type, label, etc.) to allow for maximum recovery of value.


Collect and sort waste to facilitate recovery

The circular potential of organic wastes is dependent on the quality and low contamination rate of the residual stream that is collected. Food and organic wastes are difficult to sort and separate post-collection, and as such, collecting organic wastes through a mixed collection are often limited to incineration or landfill. Therefore, collecting organic wastes through a separate collection system is key to unlock potential high-value management practices, for example, composting and anaerobic digestion.

Due to the strong influence over the operation of local waste management systems, local governments have a key role in the provision of separate organic waste collection systems throughout the city. Collections systems can vary to suit the specific characteristics of particular neighbourhoods and areas of a city. For example, areas with detached homes have more space for bins, while for apartments with less space, a communal receptacle may be more appropriate. Communication campaigns can help to raise awareness and encourage participation of residents to separate their organic wastes. 


large_nareeta-martin-FoG7PKNYjpM-unsplash.jpeg

medium_nareeta-martin-FoG7PKNYjpM-unsplash.jpeg

small_nareeta-martin-FoG7PKNYjpM-unsplash.jpeg

thumbnail_nareeta-martin-FoG7PKNYjpM-unsplash.jpeg

nareeta-martin-FoG7PKNYjpM-unsplash.jpeg

🍏  Separate organic waste collection infrastructure

The food system nourishes populations and employs 50% of the global workforce, but:
- it currently drives a quarter of the overshoot on the climate change planetary boundary due to its greenhouse gas (GHG) production, 
- animal farming alone uses over one-quarter of all land, equivalent to the size of the Americas,
- nearly a quarter of freshwater resources are lost due to rampant food waste, and
- it is the single largest driver of biodiversity loss.

A circular food system must address the whole value chain, from production to consumption to waste management. The four key solutions for the food system are:
- Put healthier, satiating foods first: Prioritise satiating and healthy foods with a lower environmental impact—ideally shifting calories from meat, fish, and dairy towards cereals, fruits, vegetables, and nuts.
- Go local, seasonal, and organic: Prioritise the production and consumption of local, seasonal, and organic produce (sometimes in combination with GMO to reduce pests and disease loss on crops), which can lead to a significantly reduced need for chemical inputs, fuels, and processing services that contribute to environmental impacts.
- Mainstream regenerative agriculture: Scale up agricultural practices that regenerate ecosystems, recirculate nutrients and sequester carbon by design. 
- End avoidable food waste: Minimise food loss and valorise waste following the food waste hierarchy along the supply chain and at the consumer level through better management of transport and storage, more refrigeration and smart planning, and technology at the consumer and food service levels.



🍏 Food Systems

Communities

Governments

Water is not only at the core of different public services cities provide, including application and sanitation, water also acts as a carrier of nutrients and energy which can benefit other urban systems. However, Global demand for freshwater will exceed viable resources by 40% by 2030, if we continue with business as usual ([ARUP](https://www.arup.com/-/media/arup/files/publications/w/water_and_circular_economy_whitepaper.pdf)). Exploring the synergistic link between water, food and energy in urban systems becomes central to sustainable development and the sustainable management of water. Urban changemakers in all three areas should start taking a more holistic approach to water management—from water resource management, to ecosystem protection and water supply and sanitation ([UN Water](https://www.unwater.org/water-facts/water-food-and-energy/)).

Bringing circularity within the food-water-energy nexus means recognising all urban water flows—drinking water, stormwater, wastewater and source water—as potential resources for use across these three sectors. Circular water systems can maximise synergies between food water and energy systems by protecting water availability to maintain agricultural production in water scarce regions, or by recovering energy from wastewater treatment, replacing fossil fuels used for cooking or heating. Solid organic matter, or biosolids, recovered from a sewage treatment can also be used as a fertiliser, preventing harmful chemicals from polluting water streams so that water sources are clean and safe to drink.

Local governments can govern the food-water-energy nexus by looking holistically at the city’s infrastructure. They can update city plans to integrate Green Blue Infrastructure (GBI) which can provide tangible benefits to each dimension of the food-water-energy nexus. Parks, green walls, waterways and greenways can, for example, provide food, water, fibre and fuel to support the urban ecosystem. Moreover, bringing different actors together, from the department of water resources, food safety, as well as energy and planning, is at the heart of any form of integrated planning. To spur cross-sectoral collaboration, for instance, cities can convene different actors on dedicated platforms and facilitate effective communication between different city departments and public organisations. Embedding a nexus strategy in municipal policy may lay a foundation for cross departmental budgeting and program implementation.


large_8264025043_e0cb037307_k.jpg

medium_8264025043_e0cb037307_k.jpg

small_8264025043_e0cb037307_k.jpg

thumbnail_8264025043_e0cb037307_k.jpg

8264025043_e0cb037307_k.jpg

💧 🍏 ⚡  Supporting solutions that maximise synergies between food water and energy systems

Regenerate strategies phase out hazardous or toxic materials and processes and substitute them with regenerative biomass resources. A circular economy aims to mimic natural cycles—by shifting to more regenerative farming practices, for example—while also maximising the share of circular biomass that enters the economy. Regeneration can happen both at the systems level (by designing regenerative processes) as well as at the product level (by switching synthetic to organic fertilisers, for example).

Impacts

small_climate-4803653_640.jpg

thumbnail_climate-4803653_640.jpg

climate-4803653_640.jpg

Industries

small_coast-wind-turbine-sea-sky.jpg

thumbnail_coast-wind-turbine-sea-sky.jpg

coast-wind-turbine-sea-sky.jpg

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

Policy Instruments

medium_image-20160922-22514-1aqaw5j.jpg

small_image-20160922-22514-1aqaw5j.jpg

thumbnail_image-20160922-22514-1aqaw5j.jpg

image-20160922-22514-1aqaw5j.jpg

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

large_photo-1515534238346-fb9ae3e399d0.jpg

medium_photo-1515534238346-fb9ae3e399d0.jpg

small_photo-1515534238346-fb9ae3e399d0.jpg

thumbnail_photo-1515534238346-fb9ae3e399d0.jpg

photo-1515534238346-fb9ae3e399d0.jpg

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

City Stakeholders

![Screen Shot 2024-10-21 at 16.53.12.png](https://goldilocks-images.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/Screen_Shot_2024_10_21_at_16_53_12_12858da6aa.png)

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

medium_Screen Shot 2024-10-21 at 16.53.12.png

small_Screen Shot 2024-10-21 at 16.53.12.png

thumbnail_Screen Shot 2024-10-21 at 16.53.12.png

Screen Shot 2024-10-21 at 16.53.12.png

        
Figure 1
Informality is an integral part of almost all African cities[i]. Of particular interest to ICLEI Africa, the UNA Rivers project team and the Lilongwe City council is the Tsoka and Lizulu informal markets in Lilongwe, Malawi. Both are located on the banks of the Lilongwe River and have increased in size significantly (Figure 1), compromising the health of the Lilongwe River (Figure 2).
Figure 2
These markets have been identified as significant point sources of pollution along the Lilongwe River with associated challenges including encroachment into the river buffer zone, urban agriculture on the river banks and waste dumping alongside and in the river (Figure 5). Compounding this challenge is the fact that the Lilongwe River is the primary source of water to the city. Therefore, its health directly effects the people of Lilongwe as well as the lives of those that reside downstream of Lilongwe and rely on the Lilongwe River for their survival.
Both markets are of high importance for the provision of livelihoods, economic opportunities and as integrated community spaces that are embedded in the urban framework of the city. Based on this significance and the importance of these markets to the community of Lilongwe, the Lilongwe City council highlighted the Tsoka and Lizulu markets as the pilot site for a river revitalisation project, being implemented with ICLEI Africa.
Figure 3
The methodology currently being employed by ICLEI Africa and partners, to conduct this river revitalisation includes:

Stakeholder identification to highlight all key participants for engagement throughout the project (these include national government departments, private sector, NGOs, Lilongwe City council officials, vendor associations, community members and market traders).
Extensive consultation and engagement with all key stakeholders in order to assess the challenges and opportunities of the site.
Intensive engagement with stakeholders, who provide key inputs into the design and functionality of the space.
Numerous site visits and smaller one-on-one meetings.
Public participation and community engagement with all key stakeholders in order to present a draft and then final implementation plan, aiming to also address key concerns and ensure project ownership.
Extensive engagement to develop a phased implementation strategy (with an associated budget) through a prioritisation exercise of the numerous activities presented under the plan.
On-going partnership and relationship building.
Implementation of components of the phased implementation strategy; to date this has included: (a) awareness and capacity building of roughly 200 stakeholders with regards to waste management and the importance of protecting urban natural assets; (b) training approximately 16 women in composting organic waste; and (c) establishing compost areas, where the capacitated women produce compost that is then sold for additional income. The compost is also used by the women on their individual plots, helping grow better vegetables which are then sold at a higher rate at the market.
On-going monitoring and evaluation of the project.
 Figure 4
Important outputs of this piece of work are:

A site analysis (see Figure 3);
A landscape master plan (see Figure 4);
A phased implementation strategy (with an accompanied budget); and
The establishment of a steering and technical advisory committee, with the following mandate: improve co-ordination of key stakeholders, co-design activities implemented at the site and oversee activities so that they are aligned with the local council mandates.
 To date a variety of lessons have been learnt. These include: 
The need to work with informality, harnessing the knowledge and skills of those residing in informal areas.
Recognising that in certain contexts it may be helpful to see informal areas as unserviced rather than unplanned.
How specific projects, like this river revitalisation project, that rely on multi-stakeholder engagements can assist in bridging the divide between city officials and community members.
How important co-production processes are, where all stakeholders have the opportunity to influence the design, planning and implementation of projects, particularly in relation to ensuring project ownership and buy-in.
That there are often structured governance systems in place in informal areas that can be harnessed for successful project implementation.
Enhanced understanding of procedures and processes vital to the success of implementation projects in African cities.
The role and effectiveness (or non-effectiveness) of on the ground activation or pilot projects. Improved understanding of the immense effort and time needed in order to effectively build partnerships and relationships, which are so vital to project success.
The importance of context specific information in planning.

Figure 5
Through relationship and partnership building, as well as project proposal submissions, it is the project team’s ambition to see additional components of the river revitalisation plan being implemented in the near future.
[i] Myers, 2011. Available at https://books.google.co.za/books?id=4dpiDgAAQBAJ&pg=PT83&lpg=PT83&dq=informality+is+an+integral+part+of+african+cities
             
      

 photo credit: American Giant 
Oritain Global, a British company specializing in supply chain traceability, said it will implement its ‘fingerprint’ identification technology, currently used in the food industry, to improve transparency in the cotton industry.
The company, which analyses and compares crops based on the composition of the soils in which they are grown, has created new partnerships with U.S. Supima cotton grower J.G. Boswell, Australian upland cotton producer Auscott and home textiles firm Welspun India.
Oritain noted that the move comes as the authenticity of Indian organic cotton has recently been called into question, adding the the company is looking to capitalize on the high level of interest in the transparency and traceability of cotton supply lines. [Read more about the cotton market: Global Cotton Output Seen Rising Amid Demand Fluctuation and Weather Woes]
Applied DNA Sciences in Stony Brook, N.Y. has developed systems for tagging and tracing cotton from the farm to the retail shelf to address similar concerns of authenticity and purity of cotton.
Oritain claims its fingerprint identification technology enables the origin of a sample of cotton to be scientifically verified through comparison of the intrinsic properties by measuring the natural properties that exist in the fiber and matching them with the claimed soils or origin to indicate the different geological and environmental conditions of the source.
These differences are then isolated and used to establish a chemical fingerprint of the sample’s provenance. Samples then claiming to be from that origin can be tested against the firm’s database.
This technology, now being applied to the cotton industry, has already been implemented across a range of food, fiber and pharmaceutical products.
Oritain chief executive officer Grant Cochrane, said, “Manufacturers, brand owners and retailers are increasingly focused on ensuring there is transparency within their supply chains. A huge part of this is knowing and trusting where their product comes from.”
Oritain claims that as more samples are collected, the identification process continues to improve reliability and accuracy.
Arthur Spellson, Auscott’s marketing manager for cotton, said, “The distinct advantage of the Oritain technology is they test the actual fiber and don’t use any sprays, tags or bar codes.”


         The transparent façade of the Aviva Stadium is made from polycarbonate. Image courtesy of Tarafuku10.        View of the Aviva Stadium pitch from the North Stand. Image courtesy of Hoops341.        The sloping roof is designed to allow natural light into the surroundings. Image courtesy of Reggie Suplido.        The Aviva Stadium is surrounded by residences and the Dodder river. Image courtesy of JP.     Aviva Stadium is a new stadium built in south Dublin, Ireland, in 2010 at a cost of €410m. It is owned by the Football Association of Ireland, the Irish Rugby Football Union and the Irish Government.
Previously known as Lansdowne Road Stadium, it is built on the historic site, surrounded by residences, on Lansdowne Road in Dublin’s suburbs. It replaced the world’s oldest international rugby stadium, built in 1872.
"The Aviva Stadium is designed in harmony to the local environment and community of its surroundings."
Demolition of the old stadium was started in June 2007. Construction was started in April 2007 and completed in April 2010. The stadium was officially inaugurated in May 2010.
The stadium has 66,460m2 of area and can accommodate 50,000 spectators. It has been certified as a BS8901 venue.
It will host international football, rugby, concerts and events. It has improved facilities over the former stadium and provides tenant clubs, new conference and dining facilities and local community facilities.
Aviva Stadium stands among the top sustainable and site-responsive stadiums in the world. It received the Emirates Glass LEAF Award in 2011.
It has won several awards including the British Construction Industry Awards’ Best International project in October 2011.
Design of the new Aviva Stadium
Populous in collaboration with Scott Tallon Walker Architects won the contract to design the project in 2005.
The redevelopment posed many challenges such as the restricted site, the Dublin-Wexford railway line passing through the stadium, an established residential community and Dodder river in the east. The materials, form and mass of the stadium were determined based on the site location and surroundings.
The field dimensions of the stadium are 106m× 68m (348ft × 223ft) and the roof measures 19,000m2 in area. The sloping roof in the north and south and transparent façade avoid blockage of sunlight on the adjacent residences and the Lansdowne Road.
Seating at all levels can be reached through multiple concourses and double height entrance lounges. The seating area is designed to provide optimal view of the pitch.
Construction of the international rubgy stadium
The project involved construction of a new access podium over the railway line, minor realignments, a new shop, Wanderers’ Football Club and administrative offices, refurbishment of Lansdowne Football and improvement of public access.
The crushed concrete was reused and the wastes were recycled during construction. Noise at the construction site was controlled using dB meters.
Façade materials
The façade of the stadium is clad in polycarbonate louvres and glass. The façade provides a shimmering effect to the stadium by reflecting the variations in sky and light conditions. The transparent shingles give a modern international arena and new identity to Ireland.
Structure of Ireland’s Aviva Stadium
The Aviva Stadium has a unique structural design with only two columns. The two columns are designed to transfer the entire forces coming from the truss, minimising the impact on environment and allowing a stable structure.
The unique free flowing bowl shape of Aviva was concluded after studying different geometries.
The single tier on the north grows to four tiers in different heights along the south, east and west sides. The truss is horseshoe-shaped along the south, east and west tiers. Conventional tapering concrete super-columns support the northern tier.
The structure is also supported by spur-trusses and a ring truss which runs along the perimeter. The primary trusses and ring trusses are spanned by cantilevering tertiary trusses.
The cantilevered steel roof weighs about 150kg for a square meter. It reaches 47.65m above the pitch area, rises 203m east to west and dips to 189.9m north to south.
Interior design features
The stadium has more than six levels of seating area. Multiple entrances are located at the ground level. A public concourse is located beneath the north seating tier.
The first and fifth levels are general admission concourses and are open to external environment. The second, third and fourth levels are enclosed and serve as premium facilities.
The south stand consists of 36 corporate boxes accommodation and a 650-seat restaurant. Admission areas feature burnt orange resin floors, exposed concrete, fair faced blockwork and cores of grey texture. The interiors feature whisper quiet chilling fan technology and acoustics panelling for minimal background noise.
Sustainability of the stadium
The Aviva Stadium is designed in harmony to the local environment and community of its surroundings. The transparency of the façade gives maximum sunlight to the interiors and the pitch while absorbing UV radiations.
"Aviva Stadium is a new stadium built in south Dublin, Ireland, in 2010 at a cost of €410m."
Top soil of the old pitch was stored during construction and reused on the new pitch. The exposed pre-cast and in-site structures used low carbon concrete. Timber was procured from sustainable resources. Plastic used for the façade is fully recyclable.
The rain water is stored in 250,000l tanks and used for pitch irrigation. Energy efficient building management systems, low energy light fittings, Integrated Building Analysis Software Systems and heat recovery generators save substantial amounts of energy. Sensor taps and environment friendly wash room fixtures save about 20,000l of water a day during events.
Contractors involved in the new stadium project
The structural and civil engineer for the project was Buro Happold. Project Management provided the construction supervision services.
John Sisk & Son was the main contractor. Keogh McConnell Spence / Franklin Sports were the quantity surveyors. ME Engineers was the services engineer and Gross Max the landscape consultant.
Michael Slattery Associates, Tom Phillips & Associates and The Sports Turf Research Institute were the fire, planning and pitch consultants respectively. 

medium_51002499051_9f8976eec3_o.jpg

small_51002499051_9f8976eec3_o.jpg

thumbnail_51002499051_9f8976eec3_o.jpg

51002499051_9f8976eec3_o.jpg

Lilongwe

medium_blob

small_blob

thumbnail_blob

blob

ICLEI

City of Lilongwe

UNA Rivers

After realizing the role that food waste played in polluting local rivers, the UNA Rivers project developed programs to divert organic waste stemming from a market before it entered the river ecosystem. A composting plan was developed; local women volunteers collected organic waste, brought it to a composting site, and earned a small income from the composting products. (Source: ICLEI, 2021, City Practitioners Handbook: Circular Food Systems)