Page 12 - U4SSC: A guide to circular cities, June 2020

Definition
‘A circular economy is an alternative to a traditional linear economy (make, use, dispose) in which we
keep resources in use for as long as possible, extracting the maximum value from them whilst in use, then
recovering and re-using products and materials.’
Source: Mitchell, P. (2015), ‘Employment and the circular economy – Job Creation through resource
efficiency in London’. Report produced by WRAP for the London Sustainable Development Commission, the
London Waste and Recycling Board and the Greater London Authority.
Circular economy is ‘an industrial system that is restorative or regenerative by intention and design. It
replaces the ‘end-of-life’ concept with restoration, shifts towards the use of renewable energy, eliminates
the use of toxic chemicals, which impair re-use, and aims for the elimination of waste through the superior
design of materials, products, systems, and, within this, business models’. The overall objective is to ‘enable
effective flows of materials, energy, labour and information so that natural and social capital can be rebuilt’.
Source: Ellen MacArthur Foundation (2013a), ‘Towards the Circular Economy. Economic and Business
Rationale for an Accelerated Transition’ (https:// tinyurl .com/ hzfrxvb). - Ellen MacArthur Foundation
(2013b), ‘Towards the Circular Economy, Opportunities for the Consumer Goods Sector’ (https:// tinyurl
.com/ ztnrg24). - Ellen MacArthur Foundation (2015a), ‘Towards a Circular Economy: Business Rationale for
an Accelerated Transition’ (https:// tinyurl .com/ zt8fhxw).
The circular economy is an economy ‘where the value of products, materials and resources is maintained in
the economy for as long as possible, and the generation of waste minimised’.
Source: European Commission (2015a), ‘Closing the loop – An EU action plan for the Circular Economy’,
Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic
and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions, COM (2015) 614 final.

Circular economy in cities aims to create a sustainable system that allows for the optimal use of
city assets and products through re-using, refurbishing, remanufacturing and recycling and other
circular actions. This Guide explains the concept of ‘circular cities’ and provides a methodology for
the implementation of circular actions at city level, as well as offering good practices and concrete
recommendations for promoting circularity in cities. It also demonstrates the positive impacts and
challenges of the implementation of circularity concept.

4 U4SSC: A guide to circular cities