How to Plan for Circular Cities: A New Methodology to Integrate the Circular Economy Within Urban Policies and Plans

Simona Tondelli and Giulia Marzani ()
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Simona Tondelli: Department of Architecture, Alma Mater Studiorum—University of Bologna, 40136 Bologna, Italy
Giulia Marzani: Department of Architecture, Alma Mater Studiorum—University of Bologna, 40136 Bologna, Italy

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 12, 1-32

Abstract: Circular economy principles applied at the city scale represent an opportunity, both in environmental and sociocultural terms, to pursue sustainable urban development. While the circular economy approach has gained huge attention and become the basic framework to boost innovation in many research fields, its application to the urban scale is still fragmented. Therefore, a more holistic and spatial-related approach is necessary. Following a systematic literature review, this paper first proposes four guiding principles that should inspire policymakers in drafting circular urban plans. By following the Strategic Environmental Assessment phases, and considering the instrument as a methodology for the drafting of plans and not an ex post evaluation of their effects, the different plan creation steps are analyzed and enriched with circular-related considerations, suggestions, and proposals. In particular, a list of 35 strategic objectives for strategic municipal spatial plans is presented. A list of indicators for the monitoring of urban transformations is also developed. The results could contribute to integrating circularity into the different phases of plan creation, moving towards circular-inclusive spatial plans.

Keywords: circular cities; urban planning; strategic environmental assessment; decision making (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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