Towards an integrated understanding of circularity, urban design, planetary stability and well-being

Abstract

Circularity strategies are increasingly recognized as essential for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and improving material efficiency in urban environments. However, existing approaches often analyze sectors in isolation, limiting their ability to capture systemic interactions and spatial dependencies. In this study, we introduce the Integrated Urban Circularity (INTURC) framework that integrates construction, building energy use, transport infrastructure, waste management, and overarching urban planning strategies to guide consistent modelling efforts. INTURC enables the explicit identification of both cross-sectoral circularity policies, which generate synergistic effects across multiple urban systems, as well as domain-specific interventions with more localized impacts. In contrast to established circularity modelling, we suggest capturing the spatial relationships in context of the social setting and policy designs that shape circularity outcomes, such as destination accessibility, information feedback and infrastructure reuse. By embedding circularity strategies within institutional and urban design contexts, INTURC facilitates systemic assessments that support effective policy prioritization.

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