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CIRCULAR
ECONOMY
IN CITIES:
PROJECT GUIDE
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The Ellen MacArthur Foundation recognises cities as a focal point in

the transition to a circular economy. This new framework has been
rapidly gaining momentum as an opportunity to rethink our approach
to using materials in cities. It leads to wholly new ways of creating
value, as well as opportunities to support key mayoral priorities
around housing, mobility, and economic development.
In March 2019, the Foundation launched Circular Economy in Cities,
a suite of easily accessible resources which provide a global reference
on the topic. Its modules have been developed to respond to the
growing interest in circular economy from city governments and
mayors, and will offer insights to many other urban stakeholders.
This document offers an overview of the Circular Economy in Cities
resources. This project builds on the city-related research and
initiatives the Foundation has developed over the years. The project
has been developed together with our Knowledge Partner, Arup.
We invite you to engage with us on this ongoing work to unlock the
economic, social, and environmental benefits that a circular economy
can bring to the 21st century city.
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CONTENTS

5
WHAT DOES
A CIRCULAR
ECONOMY BRING
TO CITIES?

6
A VISION FOR
CIRCULAR
ECONOMY IN
CITIES

8
ABOUT THE
PROJECT:
CIRCULAR
ECONOMY IN
CITIES

9
CITIES AT
THE ELLEN
MACARTHUR
FOUNDATION
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WHAT DOES A
CIRCULAR ECONOMY
BRING TO CITIES?
It is well documented that 75% of natural resource consumption occurs in cities.
Cities produce 50% of global waste and 60-80% of greenhouse gas emissions.
These are symptoms of the ‘take, make, dispose’ linear economic model.
The need for change is increasingly evident, with cities feeling the effects.
The circular economy offers an opportunity to respond to these challenges by
rethinking how we use materials, leading to wholly new ways of creating value.
Cities are where most materials are used and wasted, and where buildings,
vehicles, and products are consistently under-used.
What if we:

Design out waste and

pollution from cities?
Keep products and materials
in use in cities and maintain
their value?

Regenerate natural systems

in and around cities?
The implementation of a circular economy vision in cities can bring tremendous
economic, social, and environmental benefits. It can foster the emergence of a:
• Thriving city in which economic productivity increases through reduced
congestion, eliminated waste, and reduced costs, and where new
growth and business opportunities can support skills development and
jobs;
• Liveable city with improved air quality and urban health, reduced
carbon emissions and pollution, and with enhanced social interactions;
• Resilient city, keeping materials in use and reducing virgin material
pressures, working with both local and distributed production capacity,
and harnessing digital technology.
These benefits can be achieved by changing the way urban systems are planned,
designed, and financed, and how they are made, used, and repurposed.
This vision can help address important and pressing mayoral priorities on housing,
mobility, and economic development. It also aligns with the 2030 Sustainable
Development Goals, including reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to
the effects of climate change.
City governments are uniquely positioned in the transition to a circular economy
– they can enable, lead, and involve other key stakeholders from across the public
and private sectors, using the wide range of policy levers and measures at their
disposal. Ultimately, this is a collaborative transition towards a future of thriving
cities that are liveable and resilient, and that use materials according to circular
economy principles.
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A VISION FOR A CIRCULAR

ECONOMY IN CITIES
OPPORTUNITIES IN
BUILDINGS, MOBILITY, AND PRODUCTS

PLANNING
In cities that embed circular economy
principles, there is greater proximity between
where people live, work, and play. The air gets
cleaner as vehicles switch to zero-emission engines
and congestion reduces as shared transit increases.
More people walk and cycle to work, boosting health
and interactions with local businesses and communities.
Valuable land previously dedicated to roads and car
parks is freed up for green spaces, commerce, offices,
houses, and recreation. The layout and design of cities
also changes the way materials and products move
around them. Instead of throwing materials ‘away’ to
landfill or incineration, a new distributed system of
resource management, nutrient flows, and reverse
logistics makes the return, sorting, and reuse
of products possible. Materials stay in use.
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DESIGNING
In parallel to the urban plan, circular economy
principles transform the design of elements within cities.
Infrastructure, vehicles, buildings, and products are designed
to be a combination of durable, adaptable, modular, and easy to
maintain and repurpose. Nature inspires design. Materials are non-harmful,
locally sourced and from renewable feedstocks where appropriate, and
can be composted, recycled, and reused. Renewable energy powers cities.

MAKING
Buildings, vehicles, and products are assembled using techniques that design out waste.
Local ingenuity and skill levels increase as focus is put on decentralised, distributed
production within cities. Through digital material banks, the composition of buildings,
vehicles, and products is known, enabling their repair and reuse. Products and parts are
created on-demand and on-site, transforming construction methods and storage needs.

ACCESSING
People gain access to the things they need - be it space, products or transport - in new
ways. This can be through sharing rather than owning, which can connect people to
their neighbours and communities, or through product-as-a-service contracts. Modular
designs allow for the reconfiguration of buildings and vehicles as needs change.

OPERATING AND MAINTAINING

Products are no longer used just once. People repair and refurbish their products. These
activities occur at the individual, community, and commercial level.
Vehicles and infrastructure, from roads to street lights, are operated and
maintained so that materials, energy, and water are used effectively and
can be reused and recycled. Buildings are refurbished, improving
how they are used and operated. New possibilities and jobs
emerge. Cities that embed circular economy principles
become more thriving, liveable and resilient.
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ABOUT THE PROJECT:

CIRCULAR ECONOMY
IN CITIES
In March 2019, the Ellen MacArthur Foundation launched Circular
Economy in Cities, a suite of easily accessible resources which provide
a global reference on the topic. Its modules have been developed
to respond to the growing interest in circular economy from city
governments and mayors, and will offer insights to many other urban
stakeholders, including the people who live in cities.
The project contains the following modules:

VISION
Circular economy opportunities within three key urban systems –
buildings, mobility, and products – are brought together in this project
to illustrate what they can unlock in cities.
FACTSHEETS
A series of easy-to-reference factsheets focused on circular economy
opportunities in buildings, mobility, and products. The factsheets
provide examples of circular economy opportunities, and a range of
qualitative and quantitative benefits, including benefits in economic and
resource productivity, health and environmental outcomes, and social
prosperity.
POLICY LEVERS
This module identifies ten policy levers that city governments can
leverage to embed circular economy principles and enable the
transition in cities.
CITY-LED CASE STUDIES
Each case study focuses on a specific initiative championed by
a city government. The cases cover a range of circular economy
opportunities, urban systems, and policy levers mentioned in the
previous modules.
NETWORKS AND RESOURCES
Momentum is building around circular economy in cities. This reference
page module provides an overview of the relevant resources, tools, and
initiatives from our partners and other organisations in the field.

This project has been developed in partnership

with our Knowledge Partner, Arup, and is
supported by the MAVA Foundation.
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CIRCULAR ECONOMY IN CITIES POLICY LEVERS FOR THE EMERGENCE
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OF CIRCULAR ECONOMY IN CITIES CIRCULAR ECONOMY IN CITIES CIRCULAR ECONOMY IN CITIES CIRCULAR ECONOMY IN CITIES
POLICY LEVERS FOR THE EMERGENCE POLICY LEVERS FOR THE EMERGENCE POLICY LEVERS FOR THE EMERGENCE
OF CIRCULAR ECONOMY IN CITIES OF CIRCULAR ECONOMY IN CITIES OF CIRCULAR ECONOMY IN CITIES

A VISION FOR A CIRCULAR

ECONOMY IN CITIES
OPPORTUNITIES IN
BUILDINGS, MOBILITY, AND PRODUCTS

CITY GOVERNMENTS
AND THEIR ROLE IN
CIRCULAR ECONOMY FACTSHEETS ENABLING A CIRCULAR
ECONOMY TRANSITION
GOVERNANCE
AN OVERVIEW OF Council-Manager
URBAN POLICY LEVERS
POPULATION
968,148

GDP
USD 149 billion
PLANNING
In cities that embed circular economy DENSITY
principles, there is greater proximity between 1,335 per km
where people live, work, and play. The air gets
cleaner as vehicles switch to zero-emission engines
and congestion reduces as shared transit increases.
More people walk and cycle to work, boosting health
and interactions with local businesses and communities.
Valuable land previously dedicated to roads and car

houses, and recreation. The layout and design of cities

also changes the way materials and products move
around them. Instead of throwing materials ‘away’ to
landfill or incineration, a new distributed system of
resource management, nutrient flows, and reverse
logistics makes the return, sorting, and reuse
of products possible. Materials stay in use.

© ELLEN MACARTHUR FOUNDATION MARCH 2019 © ELLEN MACARTHUR FOUNDATION MARCH 2019
www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/our-work/activities/circular-economy-in-cities www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/our-work/activities/circular-economy-in-cities
© ELLEN MACARTHUR FOUNDATION MARCH 2019 © ELLEN MACARTHUR FOUNDATION MARCH 2019 © ELLEN MACARTHUR FOUNDATION MARCH 2019
www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/our-work/activities/circular-economy-in-cities www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/our-work/activities/circular-economy-in-cities www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/our-work/activities/circular-economy-in-cities
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CITIES AT THE
ELLEN MACARTHUR
FOUNDATION
The Ellen MacArthur Foundation recognises cities as a focal point for the
transition to a circular economy, and this project builds on and expands the
knowledge and initiatives that we have developed on cities over the years.
THOUGHT LEADERSHIP ON CITIES
The Foundation has influenced the cities and circular economy narrative
through thought leadership pieces such as Cities in the circular economy:
An initial exploration and Cities in the circular economy: The role of digital
technology in 2017.
These efforts build on the evidence base and understanding of city, regional,
and national governments developed through the research Delivering the
circular economy: A toolkit for policymakers led by the Foundation in 2015.
In addition, regionally focused work such as The circular economy
opportunity for urban and industrial innovation in China, Circular economy
in India: Rethinking growth for long-term prosperity and Growth Within:
A circular economy vision for a competitive Europe provide an evidence
base for the benefits of applying circular economy principles to key urban
systems such as mobility, the built environment, products, and food.
SYSTEMIC INITIATIVES ON KEY MATERIAL STREAMS
The Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s Systemic Initiatives aim to accelerate the
global transition towards a circular economy by applying circular economy
principles to key material streams.
In 2016, the Ellen MacArthur Foundation launched the New Plastics
Economy initiative building momentum to a plastics economy that works. In
2017, we launched Make Fashion Circular to create a new textiles economy
including the development of demonstration projects in cities. At the World
Economic Forum in Davos 2019, we launched a major report, Cities and the
Circular Economy for Food setting out the significant contribution cities can
make in shifting the global food system.
Working with businesses, governments and cities, philanthropists,
innovators, and NGOs, Systemic Initiatives spark unprecedented levels of
cross-sectoral and value-chain collaboration to unlock innovation and new
system solutions.
CONVENING AND WORKING WITH CITIES
The Foundation works closely with cities such as Brussels, Charlotte,
London, Milan, Phoenix, and Toronto through the CE100 programme, a
pre-competitive innovation programme that supports the private and
public sector in their transition to a circular economy. The Foundation also
works with cities through our Systemic Initiatives including Austin, Brussels,
Copenhagen, Guelph, New York, Porto, and São Paulo.
The Circular Cities Network, set up by the Foundation in 2016 as the first
network of its kind to focus exclusively on cities and the circular economy,
exchanged knowledge between a group of 12 pioneering cities. The network
informed much of the early development of the Foundation’s thinking on
the topic. Cities in transition also feature in the annual Disruptive Innovation
Festival, and are the focus of the 2018 film System Reset that amongst other
topics, explores the opportunities of distributed production in cities.
In addition, the Foundation has developed partnerships with key
influencers in the urban ecosystem, such as the C40 Cities Climate
Leadership Group as a Platform Partner and UN Environment Cities Unit.
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ELLEN MACARTHUR FOUNDATION PUBLICATIONS LAUNCHED
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This project drew on the collective expertise of members of the Ellen MacArthur
Foundation’s CE100 Network and a wider group of leading academic, industry, NGO,
and city government representatives who provided invaluable perspectives. It was
written and coordinated by a core project team from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation
and Arup.

ELLEN MACARTHUR FOUNDATION

CORE PROJECT TEAM

Andrew Morlet, Chief Executive

Jocelyn Blériot, Executive Officer and Head, International Institutions & Governments
Ashima Sukhdev, Government & Cities Programme Lead
Miranda Schnitger, Cities Project Lead
Maja Johannessen, Research Analyst
Soukeyna Gueye, Research Analyst
Henrietta Goddard, Research Analyst
Victoria Almeida, Brazil Associate
Vigil Yangjinqi Yu, China Research Analyst

PRODUCTION

Ian Banks, Editorial Lead

Lena Gravis, Editor
Joe Iles, Editor
Lou Waldegrave, Editor

Sarah Churchill Slough, Design and Branding Manager

Piers Young, Multimedia Designer
Matthew Barber, Design Assistant
Lucy Hardy, Digital Team Lead
George Millard, Technical Lead
Victoria Deegan, Digital Project Manager
Dan Baldwin, Digital Designer

Joanna de Vries, Editor, Conker House Publishing

Samantha Guerrini, Editor, Freelancer

ARUP

CORE PROJECT TEAM

Carol Lemmens, Director, Global Advisory Services Leader

Joanna Rowelle, Director, City Economics
Zach Wilcox, Senior Consultant, City Economics
Giacomo Magnani, Senior Consultant, City Economics
Michael Muller, Consultant, City Economics
Devni Acharya, Senior consultant, Resources and Waste
Amrita Kataria, Senior Consultant, Energy, Cities and Climate Change Consulting
Emma Gains, Senior Consultant, Sustainability Consulting
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ABOUT THE ELLEN MACARTHUR FOUNDATION

The Ellen MacArthur Foundation was launched in 2010 with the aim of
accelerating the transition to the circular economy. Since its creation, the charity
has emerged as a global thought leader, putting the circular economy on the
agenda of decision-makers around the world. The charity’s work focuses on seven
interlinking areas: insight and analysis; business; institutions, governments and
cities; systemic initiatives; learning; circular design; and communications.
Further information: www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org • @circulareconomy

ABOUT ARUP

Arup is the creative force at the heart of many of the world’s most prominent
projects in the built environment and across industry. With over 80 offices in
34 countries Arup has more than 14,000 planners, designers, engineers and
consultants delivering innovative projects across the world with creativity and
passion.
Further information: www.arup.com • @ArupGroup
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© Ellen MacArthur Foundation 2019

ellenmacarthurfoundation.org
ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/our-work/activities/circular-economy-in-cities