Zurich is committed to the circular economy
Circular economy is an important lever for reducing indirect greenhouse gas emissions
The city of Zurich was the first Swiss city to adopt a circular economy strategy. The city administration is thus committed to a vision and has achieved goals for the circular economy. The focus is on maintaining prosperity, but staying within the earth’s load limits with resource consumption, according to a press release dated January 11, 2023 Department of Health and Environment of the City of Zurich can be seen.
circular economy – symbolic photo – © Gerhard Hofmann, agency future, for Solarify
Circular economy means using materials and products, as well as their components, and keeping them in circulation for as long as possible. This art of doing business reduces the amount of waste and negative environmental impacts along the entire value chain. This involves a wide spectrum of environmental pollution: from the mining and consumption of all kinds of raw materials to water consumption and deforestation to pollutants that get into the environment, it says.
Important lever in climate protection
Circular economy is an important lever for reducing indirect greenhouse gas emissions. These would be caused outside the city limits and account for three quarters of the total emissions in the city of Zurich. The city of Zurich was therefore the first Swiss city to die Circular Economy Strategy adopted. These make a significant contribution to the city’s climate target of reducing indirect greenhouse gas emissions by 30% by 2040. The “Circular Zurich” strategy follows the vision that Zurich’s economy and society only use sustainably designed products and materials that are shared, reused, repaired and recycled. The city of Zurich is a role model and innovator. By signing the «Circular City Declaration» (Media release of July 7, 2022) the “Circular Zurich” strategy is also internationally embedded, it goes on to say.
Environment, economy and society benefit
“We need to think in a circular way about design and production processes in order to extend the lifespan of materials, products and buildings. This not only benefits the environment, it also opens up opportunities for the economy and society City Councilor Andreas Hauri. The role of the city is to create the knowledge for the circular economy, to offer spaces and platforms where the circular economy can take place, and to set economic incentives and suitable framework conditions. The city fulfills its function by buying and using in an exemplary manner itself, or by achieving a signal effect with pilot projects.
Measures and implementation planning for different categories of goods
The city of Zurich is planning measures for capital goods, durable consumer goods and short-lived goods. In the case of capital goods such as future-proof buildings and infrastructure, proven approaches in cooperation with business and science would be further expanded. Durable goods such as electronics, textiles and furniture should be used several times, repaired and rental models checked several times. Incentives should be offered here, for example, by issuing repair vouchers to the population. In the case of short-lived goods such as food, the city has been taking measures to avoid food waste in municipal businesses for a few years and is raising public and business awareness of the issue. With cross-sectional measures such as the promotion of innovation and circular business models and products, the city is actively supporting the change towards a circular economy, concludes Andreas Hauri.
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