This user guide helps the user navigate the Sustainable Consumption And Production Hotspots Analysis Tool (SCP-HAT) through each stage of the policy cycle. It outlines steps for each stage with guidance and key questions to consider as well as tools and case studies. The user guide also includes examples of the toolbox being applied in two high-impact value chains (food loss and waste, and buildings and construction).

This user guide can assist cities and regions in the Mapping, Designing and Implementation phases of their CSS, especially when the CSS is related to introducing circularity into SDGs. While the user guide is made for the Sustainable Consumption and Production Hotspots Analysis Tool (SCP-HAT), it can also be used by cities and regions for designing their approach to how to develop, implement and monitor circularity-related policies and their execution and impact.

The methodology consists of four steps: 

• Step 1: Assess the problem using available data
• Step 2: Define the circular economy response
• Step 3: Implement circular economy for the NDC
• Step 4: Track and report progress in the Biennial Transparency Report. 

The reader can use the report to go through the steps and learn about each of them in detail and to get insights into how each step can be accomplished in practice.