1 1 CIRCULAR ECONOMY IN CITIES Cities Davos_11th Jan.indd 1 15/01/2019 12:2623 3 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 will launch 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 This document, issued at the 2019 Annual Meeting of the World 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 benets that a circular economy can bring to the 21st century city. 2019 3 Circular Economy in Cities Arup 214 4 5 WHAT DOES A CIRCULAR ECONOMY BRING TO CITIES? 8 ABOUT THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY IN CITIES PORTAL 9 CITIES AT THE ELLEN MACARTHUR FOUNDA TION 6 A VISION FOR CIRCULAR ECONOMY IN CITIES CONTEN TS 5 WHAT DOES A CIRCULAR ECONOMY BRING TO CITIES? 8 ABOUT THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY IN CITIES PORTAL 9 CITIES AT THE ELLEN MACARTHUR FOUNDA TION 6 A VISION FOR CIRCULAR ECONOMY IN CITIES CONTEN Cities Davos_11th Jan.indd 4 4 5 WHAT DOES A CIRCULAR ECONOMY BRING TO CITIES? 8 ABOUT THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY IN CITIES PORTAL 9 CITIES AT THE ELLEN MACARTHUR FOUNDA TION 6 A VISION FOR CIRCULAR ECONOMY IN CITIES CONTEN TS 4 5 WHAT DOES A CIRCULAR ECONOMY BRING TO CITIES? 8 ABOUT THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY IN CITIES PORTAL 9 CITIES AT THE ELLEN MACARTHUR FOUNDA TION 6 A VISION FOR CIRCULAR ECONOMY IN CITIES CONTEN TS 4 5 WHAT DOES A CIRCULAR ECONOMY BRING TO CITIES? 8 ABOUT THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY IN CITIES PORTAL 9 CITIES AT THE ELLEN MACARTHUR 6 A VISION FOR CIRCULAR ECONOMY IN CITIES CONTEN TS 4 5 WHAT DOES A CIRCULAR ECONOMY BRING TO CITIES? 8 ABOUT THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY IN CITIES PORTAL 9 CITIES AT THE ELLEN MACARTHUR FOUNDA TION 6 A VISION FOR CIRCULAR ECONOMY IN CITIES CONTEN TS Cities Davos_11th Jan.indd 4 15/01/2019 12:26 5 8 9 65 75% 60-80% 2030 WHAT DOES A CIRCULAR EC ONOM Y 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. 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, cars, 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 benets. 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 benets can be achieved by changing the way urban systems are planned, designed, and nanced, 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 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 instruments 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. Cities Davos_11th Jan.indd 5 15/01/2019 12:266 6 A VISION FOR A CIRCULAR ECONOMY IN CITIES OPPORTUNITIES IN HOUSES AND OFFICES, MOBILITY SYSTEMS, 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 CIRCULATING The layout and design of cities also changes the way materials and products move around them. Instead of throwing materials away to landll or incineration, a new distributed system of resource management, nutrient ows, and reverse logistics makes the return, sorting, and reuse of products possible. Valuable materials stay in use.7 7 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 where appropriate, from renewable feedstocks where possible, 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 are known, enabling their repair and reuse. Products and parts are created on-demand and on-site, transforming construction methods and storage needs. USING AND REUSING 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, where producers remain involved. Modular designs allow for the reconguration of buildings and vehicles as needs change, even over the course of a day. People care for, repair, and refurbish their products. New jobs emerge and urban economies become more thriving and resilient.8 MAVA 2019 39 2017 Cities in the circular economy: An initial exploration Cities in the circular economy: The role of digital technology 2015 Delivering the circular economy: A toolkit for policymakers The circular economy opportunity for urban and industrial innovation in China Circular economy in India: Rethinking growth for long-term prosperity Growth Within: A circular economy vision for a competitive Europe Systemic Initiatives 2016 New Plastics Economy 2017 Make Fashion Circular 2019 Cities and the Circular Economy for Food CE100 2016 Circular Cities Network 12 Disruptive Innovation Festival 2018 System Reset C40 C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group10 CE100 Andrew Morlet Jocelyn Blriot Ashima Sukhdev Miranda Schnitger, Maja Johannessen Soukeyna Gueye Henrietta Goddard Victoria Almeida Vigil Yangjinqi Yu Ian Banks Lena Gravis Joe Iles Lou Waldegrave Joanna de Vries, Conker House Samantha Guerrini Sarah Churchill Slough Piers Young, Matthew Barber Lucy Hardy George Millard Victoria Deegan Dan Baldwin Carol Lemmens Joanna Rowelle Zach Wilcox Giacomo Magnani Michael Muller Devni Acharya Amrita Kataria Emma Gains 10 ELLEN MACARTHUR FOUNDATION PUBLICATIONS LAUNCHED AT THE 2019 ANNUAL MEETING OF THE WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM AT DA VOS The Ellen MacArthur Foundation, supported by the Project MainStream initiative, launched a major new publication, Cities and the Circular Economy for Food, setting out the signicant contribution that cities can make in shifting the global food system onto a healthier and more regenerative trajectory. Together with Google, the Ellen MacArthur Foundation also launched Articial Intelligence and the Circular Economy: AI as a tool to accelerate the transition, with research and analytical support provided by McKinsey business; institutions, governments and cities; systemic initiatives; learning; circular design; and communications. Further information: ellenmacarthurfoundation circulareconomy ABOUT ARUP Arup is the creative force at the heart of many of the worlds most prominent 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: ArupGroup 11 ABOUT THE ELLEN MACARTHUR FOUNDA TION 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 charitys work focuses on seven interlinking areas: insight and analysis; business; institutions, governments and cities; systemic initiatives; learning; circular design; and communications. Further information: ellenmacarthurfoundation circulareconomy ABOUT ARUP Arup is the creative force at the heart of many of the worlds most prominent 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: ArupGroup12 2019 ellenmacarthurfoundation ellenmacarthurfoundation/our-work/activities/circular-economy-in-cities