Page 264 - Sustainable Cities and Communities Design Handbook

238 Sustainable Cities and Communities Design Handbook

among the most prominent front-runners with everything related to urban
circularity. The developed solutions are being translated into pilot projects,
including the living laboratory for the circular city in Buiksloterham, a testing
ground for the optimization of material flows and prevention of CO 2 emissions
and the investigation of what can be achieved through the introduction of more
effective regulations for new-build homes. Neighboring Haarlemmermeer,
home to the Netherlands’ Schiphol Airport and the surrounding trade park, is
another case where ambitious resource management is underway. Projects
include Park 20/20, a full-service, cradle-to-cradle working environment, and
the Schiphol Trade Park, which aims to become a center for regenerative
activities.
London was one of the first large European cities to launch a roadmap for
Circular economy transformation. London’s Waste and Recycling Board es-
timates that the transition to a more effective economy could be worth $10
billion annually to the city’s economy. The Greater London Authority seeks to
achieve this through looping resource flows, while also creating over 12,000
net new jobs through the reuse, remanufacturing, and maintenance industries.
The governing bodies of London, Amsterdam, and Copenhagen announced a
collaboration focused on designing plastic packaging out of their respective
waste streams. The launch came shortly after the release of a report by the
Ellen MacArthur Foundation, which estimated that plastic packaging waste
amounts up to $120 billion annually. International initiatives like these
demonstrate that policy makers, at least in Europe, have identified significant
economic opportunities in circular models. For the London metropolitan area,
embedding circular economy principles into the urban environment can open
up new opportunities for symbiosis between cities and businesses, potentially
paving the way for greater resilience and prosperity for the growing urban
population around the world.
Paris is also actively pioneering the incorporation of circularity within its
urban ecosystem. The French capital launched the city’s white paper on cir-
cular economy, which provides an overview of the main challenges in the field
of resources, economy, environment, and society. The white paper presents a
comprehensive strategy on how to address these through 65 circular
economyebased initiatives, covering areas such as education and public
awareness building, public procurement, as well as fiscal and regulatory
measures. The Greater Paris Metropolis (GPM), with a population of nearly 7
million, exercises four major authorities: metropolitan area planning; local
housing policy; economic, social, and cultural development and planning; and
air and environmental protection. The GPM is also responsible for harmo-
nizing electricity, gas, as well as heating and cooling distribution networks.
Thanks to its planning and operational authorities, the GPM is able to promote
the circular economy on a wide scale. For instance, the development of
resource stores and recycling centers contributes to the creation of regional
ecosystems, which promote human beings and their potential and enable the