IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v10y2018i5p1310-d142914.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Interpreting Circularity. Circular City Representations Concealing Transition Drivers

Author

Listed:
  • Julie Marin

    (Department of Architecture, University of Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium)

  • Bruno De Meulder

    (Department of Architecture, University of Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium)

Abstract

Embodying circular economy transition as a sustainable city concept, circularity in cities is increasingly the subject of policy innovations, urban strategies, and research & development agendas. It seems evident that a circular city should include more than the sum or multiplication of urban circular economies. Nevertheless, prevailing discourses remain till today business focused, and how circular economy creates economic, social, and environmental resilience in cities has yet to be explored. This paper conceptualizes the notion of urban circularity. It introduces an analytical framework sorting existing circularity concepts that are based on design and planning characteristics. Adopting comparative case study research on four contemporary forward-looking spatial representations of ‘circular’ places, this paper articulates their circularity interpretation. Demonstrating how diverging sustainability framings and political positions are embedded within the studied spatial representations, this paper aims to bring clarity in contemporary circular city approaches for policymakers as well as for spatial practitioners. The paper concludes with an agenda for multi-perspective and multi-dimensional circular city design, which is anchored in place specific and multi-scalar transition relations. It suggests urban landscape design as a disciplinary field to act as a pivot in transdisciplinary circularity design and research.

Suggested Citation

  • Julie Marin & Bruno De Meulder, 2018. "Interpreting Circularity. Circular City Representations Concealing Transition Drivers," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(5), pages 1-24, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:10:y:2018:i:5:p:1310-:d:142914
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/10/5/1310/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/10/5/1310/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Nancy M. P. Bocken & Elsa A. Olivetti & Jonathan M. Cullen & José Potting & Reid Lifset, 2017. "Taking the Circularity to the Next Level: A Special Issue on the Circular Economy," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 21(3), pages 476-482, June.
    2. Federico Cugurullo, 2016. "Urban eco-modernisation and the policy context of new eco-city projects: Where Masdar City fails and why," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 53(11), pages 2417-2433, August.
    3. Korhonen, Jouni & Honkasalo, Antero & Seppälä, Jyri, 2018. "Circular Economy: The Concept and its Limitations," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 143(C), pages 37-46.
    4. Sabine Barles, 2010. "Society, energy and materials: the contribution of urban metabolism studies to sustainable urban development issues," Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 53(4), pages 439-455.
    5. Vanesa Castán Broto & Adriana Allen & Elizabeth Rapoport, 2012. "Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Urban Metabolism," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 16(6), pages 851-861, December.
    6. Will McDowall & Yong Geng & Beijia Huang & Eva Barteková & Raimund Bleischwitz & Serdar Türkeli & René Kemp & Teresa Doménech, 2017. "Circular Economy Policies in China and Europe," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 21(3), pages 651-661, June.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Julie Marin & Luc Alaerts & Karel Van Acker, 2020. "A Materials Bank for Circular Leuven: How to Monitor ‘Messy’ Circular City Transition Projects," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(24), pages 1-23, December.
    2. Aodhan Newsholme & Pauline Deutz & Julia Affolderbach & Rupert J. Baumgartner, 2022. "Negotiating Stakeholder Relationships in a Regional Circular Economy: Discourse Analysis of Multi-scalar Policies and Company Statements from the North of England," Circular Economy and Sustainability,, Springer.
    3. Federica Paoli & Francesca Pirlone & Ilenia Spadaro, 2022. "Indicators for the Circular City: A Review and a Proposal," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-28, September.
    4. Anastasia Papangelou & Jean‐Baptiste Bahers & Lynda Aissani, 2023. "Drivers of urban metabolism: Toward a framework for urban transformations," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 27(5), pages 1389-1405, October.
    5. Elena Simina Lakatos & Geng Yong & Andrea Szilagyi & Dan Sorin Clinci & Lucian Georgescu & Catalina Iticescu & Lucian-Ionel Cioca, 2021. "Conceptualizing Core Aspects on Circular Economy in Cities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(14), pages 1-21, July.
    6. Antonia Gravagnuolo & Mauro Varotto, 2021. "Terraced Landscapes Regeneration in the Perspective of the Circular Economy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-20, April.
    7. Martina Bosone & Francesca Ciampa, 2021. "Human-Centred Indicators (HCI) to Regenerate Vulnerable Cultural Heritage and Landscape towards a Circular City: From the Bronx (NY) to Ercolano (IT)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-36, May.
    8. Gaspare D’Amico & Roberta Arbolino & Lei Shi & Tan Yigitcanlar & Giuseppe Ioppolo, 2021. "Digital Technologies for Urban Metabolism Efficiency: Lessons from Urban Agenda Partnership on Circular Economy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-23, May.
    9. Biljana Stanislav Jović & Aleksandar Acim Čučaković & Mihailo Nebojsa Grbić, 2021. "Circle in Space—Space in Circle: A Study of Ratio between Open Space and Built-Up Area in Historical Circular Objects," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-21, April.
    10. D’Amico, Gaspare & Arbolino, Roberta & Shi, Lei & Yigitcanlar, Tan & Ioppolo, Giuseppe, 2022. "Digitalisation driven urban metabolism circularity: A review and analysis of circular city initiatives," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 112(C).
    11. Antonia Gravagnuolo & Mariarosaria Angrisano & Luigi Fusco Girard, 2019. "Circular Economy Strategies in Eight Historic Port Cities: Criteria and Indicators Towards a Circular City Assessment Framework," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(13), pages 1-24, June.
    12. Jarmo Uusikartano & Hannele Väyrynen & Leena Aarikka-Stenroos, 2020. "Public Agency in Changing Industrial Circular Economy Ecosystems: Roles, Modes and Structures," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(23), pages 1-27, November.
    13. Hui Zhu & Shuenn-Ren Liou & Pi-Cheng Chen, 2022. "Material Classification and Reuse Framework Based on the Reverse Dismantling of Architectural Design: A Case Study in TCCLab," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(22), pages 1-13, November.
    14. Jennifer Petoskey & Missy Stults & Eileen Naples & Galen Hardy & Alicia Quilici & Cassie Byerly & Amelia Clark & Deja Newton & Elizabeth Santiago & Jack Teener, 2021. "Envisioning a Circular Economy: The Journey of One Mid-Sized Midwestern City," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-18, March.
    15. Juli Nurdiana & Maria Laura Franco-Garcia & Michiel Adriaan Heldeweg, 2021. "How Shall We Start? The Importance of General Indices for Circular Cities in Indonesia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(20), pages 1-22, October.
    16. Luigi Fusco Girard & Francesca Nocca, 2019. "Moving Towards the Circular Economy/City Model: Which Tools for Operationalizing This Model?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(22), pages 1-48, November.
    17. Daniela Sani & Sara Picone & Augusto Bianchini & Fabio Fava & Patricia Guarnieri & Jessica Rossi, 2021. "An Overview of the Transition to a Circular Economy in Emilia-Romagna Region, Italy Considering Technological, Legal–Regulatory and Financial Points of View: A Case Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-23, January.
    18. Fatima Khitous & Fernanda Strozzi & Andrea Urbinati & Fernando Alberti, 2020. "A Systematic Literature Network Analysis of Existing Themes and Emerging Research Trends in Circular Economy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-24, February.
    19. Ari-Veikko Anttiroiko, 2023. "Smart Circular Cities: Governing the Relationality, Spatiality, and Digitality in the Promotion of Circular Economy in an Urban Region," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(17), pages 1-41, August.
    20. Ginevra Balletto & Mara Ladu & Federico Camerin & Emilio Ghiani & Jacopo Torriti, 2022. "More Circular City in the Energy and Ecological Transition: A Methodological Approach to Sustainable Urban Regeneration," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(22), pages 1-18, November.
    21. Wendy Wuyts & Raphael Sedlitzky & Masato Morita & Hiroki Tanikawa, 2020. "Understanding and Managing Vacant Houses in Support of a Material Stock-Type Society—The Case of Kitakyushu, Japan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(13), pages 1-23, July.
    22. Pamučar, Dragan & Durán-Romero, Gemma & Yazdani, Morteza & López, Ana M., 2023. "A decision analysis model for smart mobility system development under circular economy approach," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 86(C).

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Mohammadreza Akbari & John L. Hopkins, 2022. "Digital technologies as enablers of supply chain sustainability in an emerging economy," Operations Management Research, Springer, vol. 15(3), pages 689-710, December.
    2. Gilbert Silvius & Aydan Ismayilova & Vicente Sales-Vivó & Micol Costi, 2021. "Exploring Barriers for Circularity in the EU Furniture Industry," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(19), pages 1-25, October.
    3. Christoph P. Kiefer & Pablo del Río & Javier Carrillo‐Hermosilla, 2021. "On the contribution of eco‐innovation features to a circular economy: A microlevel quantitative approach," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(4), pages 1531-1547, May.
    4. Zvonimira Sverko Grdic & Marinela Krstinic Nizic & Elena Rudan, 2020. "Circular Economy Concept in the Context of Economic Development in EU Countries," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-13, April.
    5. Andrea Cecchin & Roberta Salomone & Pauline Deutz & Andrea Raggi & Laura Cutaia, 2021. "What Is in a Name? The Rising Star of the Circular Economy as a Resource-Related Concept for Sustainable Development," Circular Economy and Sustainability,, Springer.
    6. Nallapaneni Manoj Kumar & Shauhrat S. Chopra, 2022. "Leveraging Blockchain and Smart Contract Technologies to Overcome Circular Economy Implementation Challenges," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(15), pages 1-18, August.
    7. Qinglan Liu & Adriana Hofmann Trevisan & Miying Yang & Janaina Mascarenhas, 2022. "A framework of digital technologies for the circular economy: Digital functions and mechanisms," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(5), pages 2171-2192, July.
    8. Daniel Otero Peña & Daniela Perrotti & Eugene Mohareb, 2022. "Advancing urban metabolism studies through GIS data: Resource flows, open space networks, and vulnerable communities in Mexico City," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 26(4), pages 1333-1349, August.
    9. Isabel Mendes, 2020. "The Circular Economy: an Ancient Term that Became Polysemic," Working Papers Department of Economics 2020/02, ISEG - Lisbon School of Economics and Management, Department of Economics, Universidade de Lisboa.
    10. Jarmo Uusikartano & Hannele Väyrynen & Leena Aarikka-Stenroos, 2020. "Public Agency in Changing Industrial Circular Economy Ecosystems: Roles, Modes and Structures," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(23), pages 1-27, November.
    11. Serdar Türkeli & Martine Schophuizen, 2019. "Decomposing the Complexity of Value: Integration of Digital Transformation of Education with Circular Economy Transition," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 8(8), pages 1-22, August.
    12. Hervé Corvellec & Alison F. Stowell & Nils Johansson, 2022. "Critiques of the circular economy," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 26(2), pages 421-432, April.
    13. Florian Lüdeke‐Freund & Stefan Gold & Nancy M. P. Bocken, 2019. "A Review and Typology of Circular Economy Business Model Patterns," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 23(1), pages 36-61, February.
    14. Mark Anthony Camilleri, 2020. "European environment policy for the circular economy: Implications for business and industry stakeholders," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 28(6), pages 1804-1812, November.
    15. Leticia Sarmento dos Muchangos, 2022. "Mapping the Circular Economy Concept and the Global South," Circular Economy and Sustainability,, Springer.
    16. Rikke Marie Moalem & Mette Alberg Mosgaard, 2021. "A Critical Review of the Role of Repair Cafés in a Sustainable Circular Transition," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-25, November.
    17. Julian Kirchherr & Andrea Urbinati & Kris Hartley, 2023. "Circular economy: A new research field?," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 27(5), pages 1239-1251, October.
    18. Ana Beatriz Lopes de Sousa Jabbour & Charbel Jose Chiappetta Jabbour & Moacir Godinho Filho & David Roubaud, 2018. "Industry 4.0 and the circular economy: a proposed research agenda and original roadmap for sustainable operations," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 270(1), pages 273-286, November.
    19. Bongers, Anelí & Casas, Pablo, 2022. "The circular economy and the optimal recycling rate: A macroeconomic approach," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 199(C).
    20. Giampietro, Mario, 2019. "On the Circular Bioeconomy and Decoupling: Implications for Sustainable Growth," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 162(C), pages 143-156.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:10:y:2018:i:5:p:1310-:d:142914. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.