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Knowledge category: Projects

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.

Acronym: CityLoops
Countries: Not applicable
Start and end date: 01.10.2019 - 30.09.2023
Budget: 10 441 898 EUR
Funding source: Horizon 2020
Sectors

built environment, CEAP2 key product value chain

CEAP2 key product value chain

including bio-based economy