The City of Bergen has developed its Circular Economy (CE) strategy as an integrated part of the city’s overall climate transition system. Circularity goals and measures are embedded within the city’s planning hierarchy:

• Green Strategy (Grønn strategi): Bergen’s climate strategy, which includes circular economy as one of four main strategies for the climate transition of Bergen, together with climate neutrality (85% reduction of greenhouse gas emissions), climate adaptation and climate risk management.a key element of the climate transition.
• Green Operations (Grønn virksomhet): The climate and environmental plan for municipal projects and operations, incorporating circular goals.
• Action Plan for Green Strategy (Handlingsplan for Grønn strategi): The climate action plan detailing measures for implementing circular economy principles.
• Climate Budget (Klimabudsjettet): A financial framework linking climate transition to the municipal budget structure, including circular economy measures.

The strategic scope of Bergen’s Circular Economy framework is to support and facilitate the development of circular industries, technologies, and business models. As an ambitious and responsible community developer, the City of Bergen aims to ensure a transition towards a circular economy that is just, accessible, and efficient.

Key focus areas include:

• Public procurement practices that promote circular solutions
• Digitalisation and standardisation of information on local resources, products, waste, and materials
• Strategic business development and innovation
• Support for local initiatives and community mobilisation
• Systemic solutions for transforming the existing waste management system
• Building strategic partnerships across sectors

Circular economy is a stated priority in the City of Bergen’s political platform. Several political and industrial initiatives have already been launched, and the transition to a circular economy will form a central part of Bergen’s response to the climate crisis and achievement of climate goals.

As a local authority, Bergen is committed to actively testing and improving circularity across economic sectors, value chains, services, and infrastructures. This approach ensures continuous learning and innovation in the city’s journey toward a sustainable future.

City of Bergen

Climate Agency and the Department of Business Development and Agriculture

• Green Strategy (Grønn strategi), Climate strategy for the City of Bergen
• Green operations (Grønn virksomhet), Climate and Environmental Plan for the City of Bergen
• Action Plan for Green Strategy (Handlingsplan for Grønn strategi) 
• Climate budget (Klimabudsjettet)

Circular economy is further incorporated in thematic plans such as our Purchasing strategy, Action plan for business development and Environmental plan for construction projects.

The City of Bergen have implemented a wide range of CE policies, projects, and initiatives the last five years:
 

1. The circular potential: The feasibility study ‘Circular Bergen’ describes the sectors with the highest potential for circular development and associated barriers in the region.
2. Waste and sanitation: The City of Bergen has secured the implementation of the sewer sludge biogas plant (15 GWh) and the city centre’s underground pneumatic waste system. Other important developments include the separate collection of food waste, and the dynamic financing of waste made possible in collaboration with the local waste managing company BIR.
3. Food system: The City of Bergen has both strategic goals and measures to generate a positive impact on the food system.
4. Bioeconomy: In collaboration with Vestland County Council, and other partners, the City of Bergen invests in the development of a regional, regenerative bioeconomy. The goal is to create circular and high value products and materials from biowaste, in an efficient and sustainable way. Investing in industrial networks, clusters and research programmes is the main strategy, as well as facilitating for industrial symbiosis.
5. Sustainable communities: As a community developer, the City of Bergen is a facilitator for sustainable living, and the development of an inclusive and just CE. The City of Bergen strives to involve the local communities in this transition. Through investment in volunteer centres, makerspaces, environmental organisations and neighbourhood initiatives, we create spaces for sustainable and circular interaction. This year, we will increase our efforts to reduce textile waste.
6. The circular city: The City of Bergen strives to create sustainable and circular spaces and buildings and develop solutions for sustainable, active, and shared mobility. This is about sharing public buildings and facilities with local communities, but also about establishing a more circular building practice. Circular mobility services, such as city bikes and shared vehicles, are prioritised. The development of Bergens light rail system, combined with a rigorous densification policy, remains the most important project.

The city of Bergen participates in the following initiatives:

• Circular Cities Declaration
• Covenant of Mayors
• Eurocities
• Local Governments for Sustainability (ICLEI)
• Nordic Smart City Network (NSCN)
• Urban transmission mission (UTM)
• Skur 26
• REDIS mesterskap i redesign (@redis.bergen) • Instagram-bilder og -videoer
• Bergen kommune - Sopp, hamp, sagflis og bark kan erstatte fallunderlag i gummi

• Circular Bergen, feasibility study on the circular potential of Bergen
• Climate budget integrated in the city budget
• Motility hubs, smart, emission-free and shared mobility
• Transforming recycling stations to environmental parks
• Reuse department, municipal reuse of furniture, inventory and building materials
• FutureBuilt Bergen, innovation program for sustainable urban development
• Grøn region vestland, regional coordination programme facilitating industrial symbiosis
• One Ocean Bergen, partnership for sustainable and knowledge based marine industries
• Reuse week, a week dedicated to boosting reuse and repair culture
• Proptech innovation, circular economy projects