CityLoops: Urban Circularity Assessment Method
Updated on 30.06.2025
The document presents the Urban Circularity Assessment (UCA) method. It is an urban material flow and stock accounting method paired with system-wide indicators to assess the material circularity of a city. The material flows are accounted economy-wide for two years, applying the Mayer et al. (2019) framework, which in itself builds on the EW-MFA method, including the wide material scope, while optimised for a circular economy assessment. The material stock accounting is limited to buildings of a municipality, with the material scope depending on data availability. Finally, the mass-based, “circularity” Indicators cover the entire system and enable the assessment of a city’s circularity. The developed UCA method seeks to find a balance between scientific rigour and comprehensiveness on the one hand, and operability by urban policy makers and practitioners on the other.
built environment, CEAP2 key product value chain
CEAP2 key product value chain
including bio-based economy