Report shows big opportunities for circular cities

The Circularity Gap Report Munich estimates that Munich could meet its societal needs while consuming 43% less materials and reducing its carbon footprint by 23%. Although the city has very high levels of material consumption, each person consumes 32tonnes/year of virgin materials, it is also a hub for innovation and R&D, and equipped with the means and the motivation to drive increased circularity, the report says.

Using case studies and analysing data on different material flows in Munich, the report shows that a reduction in consumption can be achieved by introducing aspects of a circular economy across five key sectors:

• Build a circular built environment. Munich already has constructed 90% of buildings required for the coming years. Rather than build new housing the city should prolong the life of existing buildings, and retrofit to increase energy efficiency and reduce carbon usage.For any required new housing efficient building practices such as low-carbon construction materials should be used.

• Shift to a circular food system. Germany has the fourth largest organic crop production in Europe but increased levels of urban agriculture in Munich is recommended. The city already has many community gardens and the introduction of more rooftop gardens and small-scale green spaces are being explored. The report recommends Munich moves away from meat-based diets and reduce and valorise food waste from its current rate of 70kg/person/year.

• Advance circular manufacturing. Munich’s manufacturing sector employs close to 100,000 workers and is a European leader in revenue gained from remanufacturing (rebuilding and recovering old products). The circular manufacturing sector could be boosted by investment in R-strategies, such as repair and remanufacturing, and advancing resource-efficient manufacturing, such as using scrap metals and cutting down on industrial waste.

• Promote a circular lifestyle. Currently consumers are purchasing and replacing products at an increasing rate in Munich. Residents need to adopt a ‘material sufficiency’ lifestyle, where they buy less, swap ownership for rent, and practice reuse and repair to improve circularity. Further, local producers should design their products to be repaired and recycled more easily.

• Redesign mobility. Munich is the most congested city in Germany, despite its advanced public transport system. Circularity can be improved by reducing unnecessary travel by promoting hybrid and flexible work, and encouraging cleaner urban mobility by electrifying public transport, promoting shared mobility, and electric and lightweight vehicles.

Munich as a city has already begun on its journey to circularity with stakeholders already taking action to make the city more circular. The report recommends that the city mobilises all stakeholders through a comprehensive circular city strategy, and brings local communities and businesses on board by increasing awareness.

To the see the report: Circularity Gap Report Munich