The high-density nature of living in cities complements the circular economy and a whole host of initiatives are popping up, from Singapore to Detroit

Cities are increasingly embracing circular economy principles; updating and adapting policies, sharing knowledge, and encouraging innovation for less wasteful systems. As chief executive of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, Andrew Morlet has noted that built-up urban areas lend themselves particularly well to circular business models. This is due to the close proximity of citizens, retailers and service providers; the highly-skilled workforce and technology savvy markets; and high concentrations of biological and technical nutrients.

Cultural trends and city lifestyles are also playing a part, according to Dustin Benton, head of energy and resources at environmental think tank Green Alliance. “There’s something here about cultural power. If you can get the people who are the creators and makers – the early adopters – interested, then it tends to spiral and is picked up more broadly,” he explains.

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Source: The Guardian Circular Economy RSS