The circularity gap: between the ambitious goals and first movers

Top-down: ambitious goals

Circularity is becoming one of the key priorities on the European, national, regional and local levels. The set goals impose very high standards for the future circular functioning of our everyday life, questioning the production mode and the systems in which it is embedded. Looking at the past and future steps that have to be taken to actualize such systemic transformation, it is apparent that a defined framework is lacking as well as an interpretation of the goals into smaller stepping stones. The question is how these fundamental changes – related to sustainability policy, energy transition, the introduction of the non fossil-based economy, together with digitization and automation – will actually become operational in our reality.  

Bottom-up: innovative initiatives

At the same time, within the broad field of production practices, many innovative circular initiatives are blooming. These are strongly active in strategizing upon the upcoming transition, looking for new kinds of functioning, new economic value and collaborations in order to accelerate the needed shift to circularity. However, they lack a structured framework in which they position themselves and where their efforts can be multiplied, upscaled and spread out.

The gap

The gap between the ambitious goals formulated on all levels and the many innovative practices is clear. It is the starting point of conversations, research and collaborations, in order to understand how the bigger goals can land in the field and how the ongoing practices can be steered structurally to have a substantial impact.

The Circular (City) Ports trajectory is an attempt to bridge the gap between those two sides of the circular economy transition.

The Circular (City) Ports trajectory supports the bridging of the gap between those two sides of the circular economy transition.

Source: IABR and AWB (2018)