Cities in the Circular Economy

Our approach is inspired by a whitepaper developed by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, entitled “Cities in the Circular Economy, An Initial Exploration”.

The whitepaper can be found here.

The whitepaper advocates for global cities transforming from their linear economies of today to a circular based economy. The MacArthur Foundation’s premise is that this transition is necessary for future population, environmental, and economic growth in our cities. The National League of Cities estimates that achieving a 75% recycling rate for United States cities by 2030 would result in 1.1 million new jobs and reduce carbon dioxide by 276 million tons. This may only represent one small step towards a zero-waste society, but it shows the potential for the broader impact of circular economies.

Transitioning developed cities from a linear economy to a circular one will take time and significant political and societal willingness to change for the better. This is comparable to turning a freight ship 180 degrees in the ocean. It takes planning, effort, and time.

The Sustainable Development Fund aspires to help developing communities avoid the mistakes of our current developed cities, embrace their success, and take the leap into a circular-based economy.