Toward New Circular Urban Economies: Regeneration Models for the Ecological Transition of Cities. European Cases and Initiatives

Abstract

The paper examines how cities can support ecological transition through the adoption of circular urban economy principles and regenerative urban planning. Drawing on scientific literature, European policy frameworks, and a comparative review of urban regeneration initiatives, the authors argue that cities should be reimagined as living organisms with circular metabolisms capable of efficiently managing material and immaterial resource flows. The study discusses the environmental challenges associated with conventional urban development, including resource depletion, waste generation, biodiversity loss, and greenhouse gas emissions, and proposes circular economy approaches as a means of reducing urban environmental impacts while improving social equity and quality of life.

The paper introduces the concept of Circular Urban Economy (CUE) as an integrated framework linking circularity, regenerative design, climate adaptation, nature-based solutions, and urban well-being. Particular attention is given to European policy initiatives such as the New European Bauhaus Facility 2025–2027 and the European Circular Cities Declaration, which encourage circular, inclusive, and regenerative transformations at neighbourhood and city scales. Through the analysis of several European case studies—including projects in Switzerland, France, Italy, the Netherlands, and Belgium—the authors identify key strategies for circular urban regeneration, such as adaptive reuse of buildings and materials, urban mining, biodiversity enhancement, community participation, and the strengthening of local circular resource networks.

The findings suggest that circular urban regeneration should move beyond waste reduction and resource efficiency to become a broader transformative approach that integrates ecological restoration, social cohesion, and economic resilience. The authors conclude that regenerative cities require new governance models, innovative planning tools, material reuse strategies, and stronger integration of nature-based solutions. Circular Urban Economy is presented as a pathway toward more equitable, resilient, biodiverse, and climate-responsive urban environments capable of supporting long-term sustainability and post-growth urban development.