How can circular economies benefit smart cities?
This article is also available here in Spanish.

How can circular economies benefit smart cities?

My list

Author | Lucía Burbano

Cities represent almost two-thirds of the global energy demand, produce up to 50% of solid waste and are responsible for 70% of greenhouse gas emissions. Cities that include circular economy criteria in their municipal strategies not only benefit themselves but the planet as a whole.

Circular economies and smart cities

The Circular Economy in Cities report, published by the World Economic Forum, defines the circular economy as "an economic system that is based on business models that replace the ‘end-of-life’ concept with reducing, alternatively reusing, recycling and recovering materials in production/distribution and consumption processes, operating at a micro- and macro-economic level, with the aim of accomplishing sustainable development".

And what is the relationship of cities with the circular economy? Cities now generate over 80% of global GDP, with 56% of the global population living in cities. Cities also form a rich productive, residential, experimental and administrative ecosystem, which allows them to be the perfect testing bench to explore circular economy models.

Example of circular economy in cities

circular economy 1

Lolland and Copenhagen, Denmark

Denmark is an interesting example of circular economy, and also balances living demands between rural and urban areas. In the rural area of Lolland, where the population is decreasing, Lendager, a company specializing in implementing circular business models in the construction industry, is recycling and reusing materials from the demolition of abandoned buildings to build new housing in the capital.

The company has designed a highly complex new technique for recycling brick walls, and it has used this in a residential building in Ørestad, Copenhagen, which also reduces the carbon footprint associated with construction by 70%.

China’s sponge cities, an example of a circular economy

The 30 sponge city initiative, which includes Shanghai, Wuhan and Xiamen, wants to tackle rainwater runoff by incorporating wetlands and natural drainage elements such as green roofs, and permeable pavements in order to take advantage of the excess storm water which the soil cannot absorb. The aim is to reuse 70% of this rainwater in Chinese urban areas.

This circular project has received $12 billion in funding, 20% of which was funded by the central Chinese government. Local governments and private companies cover the remaining percentage.

circular 3

And who funds the circular economy?

Changing from a linear economy to a circular one requires huge efforts by cities. The current dependence on fossil fuels, the change of mentality required in the management of resources or the high research and development investments required, the return of which is not immediate, are some of the barriers.

But it is essential for national and local governments to back these circular initiatives. London has a program in place to help SMEs incorporate circular economy criteria into their strategies called ‘Business Transformation’; it forms part of ReLondon and has various grant schemes in place. It has helped more than 350 SMEs since 2017.

Toronto’s Circular Economy Procurement Implementation Plan and Framework strategy has been allocated CAD 1.8 million to cover the costs of projects and initiatives that enable the Canadian city to reduce its waste. It is aimed at providers who want to take part in the various tenders organized by the city council and which integrate circular economy criteria.

Images | Bamban heru, Vivianne Lemay, Chuttersnap

Related content

Recommended profiles for you

LM
Lukasz Mastalerz
Think Lodz
ST
Svetlana Tesic
Alliance of European Mayors
CoFounder and Public Affairs Director
RM
Rörig Manfred
DHL Express Germany GmbH
EL
eduardo.leite leite
Agência de desenvolvimento leste paulista Sul de minas
Business Development
DF
D\'Aversa Fabio
PwC
senior advisor
AF
ANDRESSA FABRIS
Alfa Comunicação e Conteúdo
AA
Ahmed Abdelmaged
WSP
AC
Alexandre Contar Fernandes
GoToThink / eSIMs
OD
Osmar Dalquano Junior
Retail2Engage
Director - Relationship and Business
AA
awdad awdadw
awdadwdass
PT
Parth Thakkar
THE TECHMINERS
Owner
LA
Luis Anzola
TEDxPaseoTabasco
Operations and sponsorship
AS
Ariadne Serrato
FIRA BARCELONA MÉXICO
Relationship with governments
RC
ronlad condori
ica
RW
Reinhard Weissinger
University of Geneva
Lecturer, Standardization and Sustainability
RF
Ramon Fonollet
Ex de Banco Sabadell
Actualmente estoy jubilado “retired” ...,!!
GB
Gabriela Bondi
People Growth consultant ( self employed)
External
ML
Mateo Ledesma
UNEP
Cities and Sustainable Consumption and Production Specialist
SK
Sang Geol Kim
Kyungpook national University
Professor
ML
Martí Lloveras
ARGOS
CEO