Cities and regions

Urbanization is one of the key challenges of our time. About 70% of the world's population currently lives in urban areas, cities account for 67% of global energy consumption and more than 70% of greenhouse gas emissions.

Such a high level of urbanization generates a number of social and environmental challenges, in particular the issue of pollution. However, cities cannot be seen only as the source of problems, but as they are centres of exchange of knowledge and experience, they can contribute to the promotion and effective implementation of circular solutions within its boundaries as well as outside.

That is why cities can be drivers for change, by implementing innovative solutions and inspiring urban repair processes. Cities, with their human and technological resources, have the ability to identify and implement circular solutions. They can become leaders in the transformation process from a linear to a circular economy and thus contribute to improving the quality of the environment and raising the standard of living of its residents.

The ambition of the program is to support cities and regions in identifying problems, but above all in determining opportunities related to circular economy and implementing specific solutions. We support such areas as: creating new jobs, improving the quality of the environment, optimizing the supply chain, reducing waste, improving public transport or raising the standard of living of the society. Our actions run in close cooperation with local government, local administration and companies, thus combining environmental, political and business interests. Business relations not only provide strategic innovations, but also guarantee their effective implementation, while the link to the local political agenda accelerates processes related to the implementation of circular economy solutions.

City scan

The city scan is an in-depth analysis of value chains, sectors of the economy and the flow of raw materials for circularity analysis considerations. It is implemented in four stages: analysis of the socio-economic and political situation; researching the flow of raw materials in the city; analysis of the impact of innovation on development and the functioning of the city; strategy preparation (Action Plan). As a result of this process, a road map is created which identifies the possibilities of implementing circular economy solutions, and above all, facilitates the creation of practical and scalable solutions.

Up to now, scans of 15 cities such as Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Glasgow, Barcelona have been carried out. This process proved to be extremely helpful in bringing cities and regions to effective implementation of circular solutions.

We have the ambition for Polish cities to join the group and to join forces of interested entities within the framework of the Polish Circular Hotspot to carry out the city scanning processes together.

 

Ikonki

Assessment of the strongest sectors of the local economy and identification of the areas where the political and economic willingness to transform towards circular economic model is the largest.

The main challenge in this phase is to identify sectors and industries that are or may be interested in the transformation. Selection criteria include employment levels in a given sector, their growth potential and the level of specialization of the city. It is important for the region or city to take into account the social consequences of these changes and their impact on particular sectors. The areas to which the most financial resources are allocated and which are a priority in the future development of the city are also analyzed, as they can ensure the efficiency of the transition to the circular economy.

Analysis of the flow of raw materials in a given city resulting in the creation of so-called Map of the City Metabolism - a visual presentation of the processes taking place in the city. This stage called "metabolism" is an analysis of how resources, materials, energy and work are "consumed" and "digested" throughout the city.

This is the stage where the most pressing environmental problems are identified. It evaluates how resources are used in a given industry and what happens to waste. For example, are materials stored or recycled? Thanks to the analysis at this stage, it is possible to identify the priorities for material flow optimization.

At this stage, a strategy for the initial phase of transformation towards a circular economy is prepared. It determines what specific strategies can be used to strengthen the circular economy in the city. This stage is to show how a given sector of the economy should look within the circular economy and provide practical tips and strategies that will help transform the city towards that goal.

Action Plan - an agenda of actions that local governments, communities and business have to take both in the long and short term.

Creating a specific starting point for the city to begin the transition towards a circular economy. The Action Plan is created to provide an overview of the immediate actions that stakeholders need to take in the near and longer term.

Action Plan also allows to show how much will the city or region benefit from the introduction of circular economy in particular industries, e.g. how much money, time and resources or CO2 will be saved by implementing individual solutions.