The current economy operates mainly on a ‘take-make-dispose’ model – a linear model where every product is bound to reach its ‘end of life.’ This leads to a growing pressure of production and consumption on the world’s resources and environment. A CE model strives towards using and re-using our resources in a more resource efficient way through preserving and enhancing natural capital, optimising natural resource yields by circulating products, components and materials, as well as fostering effective waste management and minimising detrimental practices. The organisations involved in the project span Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Scandinavian area, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland and the UK (Scotland).

The CIRCTER project provides evidence of the territorial dimension of the transition towards a CE and of local and regional patterns and flows of materials, including resources and waste. The analysis of the territorial dimension aims to cover changes in resource use, design, production, distribution, consumption and waste management. In addition, the project aims to provide input to European regions and cities for implementing steps towards a CE, including a method to generate regional data for material and waste flows, and causal loop diagrams to support decision making.

The CIRCTER project has made significant progress in the identification of the potential territorial implications of a CE. The project has successfully identified a series of territorial factors affecting the distribution and manifestations of CEs at sub-national levels and has also addressed the likely territorial consequences stemming from CE transitions. Furthermore, the project has reviewed and characterised the key policies supporting CEs and closed-loop systems at various territorial levels. The project has also provided policy advice for the definition of fit-to-purpose CE strategies at local and regional levels.

Fundacion Tecnalia Research & Innovation

Contact the project.

• Wuppertal Institut fur Klima
• Umwelt
• Energie GmbH
• Technopolis France
• Prognos AG
• KnowlEdge Srl
• Association of Cities and Regions for Sustainable Resource Management