Systemic circular solutions demonstrated in European cities and regions
Because cities concentrate people, infrastructure, consumption and economic activity, they also concentrate opportunities for circular innovation. The choices made by local and regional authorities can therefore have an outsized impact on Europe’s transition towards a more resource-efficient economy. Cities consume over 75 % of natural resources, generate more than half of global waste and are responsible for around 70 % of global CO2 emissions. Yet, these same territories also produce large volumes of food waste, wastewater, construction waste and industrial by-products that hold immense potential to serve as local secondary resources. Local and regional authorities are uniquely positioned to unlock this potential, as they manage the very systems central to a circular transition, including waste, water, mobility, housing, food systems and public procurement.
A commitment to real-world solutions
Through the EU’s flagship Circular Cities and Regions Initiative – CCRI(opens in new window), cities and regions across Europe are connecting with peers, testing new approaches and accelerating the deployment of circular solutions adapted to local realities. This CORDIS Results Pack showcases systemic, on-the-ground circular economy solutions deployed in European cities and regions under the CCRI from six Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe projects. These initiatives are already transforming local value chains, reducing resource use, creating economic opportunities and improving quality of life for citizens. They show how systemic circular solutions enable communities to achieve ambitious sustainability goals while igniting job creation, skills development and social innovation.
From local action to European impact
Beyond environmental gains, circular solutions can deliver tangible benefits for citizens and local economies. By turning waste into resources, cities and regions can reduce pressure on natural resources, strengthen local supply chains, create new business opportunities and generate skilled jobs. Circular approaches can also help improve resource security, lower waste management costs and make communities more resilient to future economic and environmental shocks. These local initiatives directly contribute to the objectives of the EU’s Circular Economy Action Plan(opens in new window), a core pillar of the European Green Deal(opens in new window). By extending the life of products and materials, promoting reuse and recycling, and creating new value from waste streams, cities and regions are helping translate European ambitions into practical solutions that improve everyday life.
Scaling solutions across Europe
The projects featured in this Results Pack demonstrate that circular economy solutions are no longer theoretical concepts but practical approaches already delivering results in diverse European territories. From turning wastewater into fertilisers and extending the life of electric vehicle batteries to creating new value chains from biowaste, these initiatives show how local action can drive systemic change. Through collaboration between public authorities, businesses, researchers and citizens, cities and regions are proving that circular solutions can be adapted to different territorial contexts and replicated elsewhere. Their experiences offer valuable lessons for other communities looking to accelerate their own transition towards a more resilient, competitive and sustainable future. Circular bioresources and biowaste valorisation allow cities and regions to transform food waste, agricultural residues and municipal waste into bio-based chemicals, fertilisers and materials. The HOOP project turned the organic fraction of municipal solid waste and urban wastewater sludge into high added-value products beyond compost and biogas. Meanwhile, Agro2Circular upcycled fruit and vegetable waste into valuable natural ingredients for cosmetics, functional foods and nutraceuticals. TREASoURcE used organic waste from agriculture and food production to create biogas and recycled fertilisers. In addition, circular value chains can reduce waste and emissions across multiple sectors. FRONTSH1P transformed industrial biowaste into compostable plastics, biostimulants and biolubricants. P2GreeN converted urban sanitary waste into safe bio-based fertilisers for agricultural production. Finally, local and regional authorities can play a key role in mobilising local stakeholders around shared circular ambitions. ROBIN helped regions build the cooperation frameworks and stakeholder ecosystems needed to accelerate circular bioeconomy action on the ground.
