Seeking Circularity: Circular Urban Metabolism in the Context of Industrial Symbiosis

Cities are leading in the implementation of circular economy (CE) principles and sustainable development due to the concentration of knowledge, resources and technology while remaining the highest consumers and producers of resources. CE, urban metabolism (UM) and industrial symbiosis (IS) offer a new more holistic approach based on material and energy flow analysis and materials recovery from waste by creating IS networks to support a new circular urban system (CUM) which contrast to the traditional linear extract-produce-use-dispose model of economic systems. In this paper, we present the concepts of CE, IS and CUM and how the new framework could improve cities transition to sustainability and CE, with detailed CE and IS indicators analysis. We introduce the relations between IS, CE and UM concepts, how they can be used and monitored in the CUM framework. CUM can help unite urban planners, the city's governance and the business sector to promote collaboration across the city to improve future sustainability and circularity by closing loops.

Automated summary

Cities are taking the lead in implementing circular economy principles and sustainable development, utilizing urban metabolism and industrial symbiosis to transition towards a more holistic and circular urban system. This new framework aims to improve future sustainability and circularity by fostering collaboration across urban planners, city governance, and the business sector to close loops and promote a circular economy.