The plan was launched in its new “Circular Economy Framework and Action Plan” which outlines how the organisation will embed circular principles in major construction projects, improve recycling facilities and make it easier for residents, businesses and visitors to adopt circular practices.
The City of London Corporation – the name of the local authority of the City of London (also known as the Square Mile) – has a wider Climate Action Strategy which aims for net zero carbon emissions across its full value chain by 2040. There is a national target to be carbon neutral by 2050.
The new circular framework was approved by the Court of Common Council – the City’s highest decision-making body.
Chairman of the City Corporation’s Port Health and Environmental Services Committee, Mary Durcan, said: “This framework is a game-changer for the Square Mile. It builds on our commitment to innovation and sustainability, creating a greener, cleaner City for everyone.
“By adopting circular economy principles, we’re not just reducing waste, we’re unlocking economic opportunities, fostering collaboration, and ensuring that the City remains a world-leading hub for business and culture.”
Chairman of the City Corporation’s Planning and Transportation Committee, Shravan Joshi, added: “The City of London’s global reputation as a financial and cultural capital is underpinned by our ability to lead on sustainability. As well as reducing waste, we’re creating a resilient and future-proof City where materials are continuously upcycled.
“This framework exemplifies how forward-thinking policies can drive real change, making the Square Mile a model for circularity and a magnet for sustainable investment.”
The Corporation has several circular economy initiatives currently underway. This includes regular “Give and Take” days where residents are able to donate unwanted books, clothes and electrical items for reuse.
In September last year, the Corporation invested an extra £1 million into it’s street cleaning operations.
Romulus by Maconda
The City also published “a Heritage Buildings Retrofit Toolkit” which looks to provide building owners with guidance on responsible retrofitting and enhancing climate resilience in heritage structures.
The toolkit ties into the Corporation’s partnership with Romulus by Maconda Solutions.
In November last year, the circular construction consultancy launched its new programme “Romulus” which looks to create public-private partnerships to help ease the transition towards reuse and circularity.
Director James Adams told Letsrecycle.com about the creation of the tool at the time: “Romulus came out of conversations I had over the course of a year with partners, including the City of London, Upcyclea in France and researchers at Cardiff University.
“It was odd because we could see that there was supply and we could see that there was demand – and yet nothing was happening.”
The online platform provides a space to bring together London-based local government, developers, architects and other stakeholders.
The platform creates actionable circular insights from live building projects – bringing together key contractors, clients, architects and consultants across London to share building audit data and encourage circular economy.
Adams concluded: “If I really break it down: the industry wants to make its life easier, and reuse is not an easy thing.
“We hope to be able to unlock that real push towards a more circular approach in construction.
“It’s not simply about creating another tool…it’s about creating the conditions for circularity to take off.”
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