Tool

Circle Lab for Cities Program

2021 – 2022
Botswana, Indonesia, the Philippines, United States
What we are doing
For cities, a circular economy offers great benefits, ranging from reduced greenhouse gas emissions, lower waste management costs, to new livelihood opportunities and local value creation. Yet planning for the circular economy at the local level is a complex process, bringing together different sectors and addressing impacts beyond jurisdictions and city departments. As a local government, it can be difficult to know how to apply circular economy principles to different value chains, beyond waste management. The lack of material and waste data available makes it difficult for cities to set a baseline to prioritize action and monitor progress. As a result, developing a strategy or policies around city-wide circular economy solutions often requires consultants or substantial city staff capacity, which outprices a lot of cities.
What we are achieving
The Circle Lab for Cities program offers a hands-on, cost-effective process for local governments and stakeholders to boost their efforts toward a circular economy. The program tools are co-created by consortium partners to provide value to local governments along their circular economy journey. The tools will be tested by local governments across five world regions to ensure they address practical needs and are adaptable to different local contexts.

Focus areas

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