The purpose of a conceptual framework is to provide a lens through which to understand the ways a circular economy could manifest in a city. The framework on the following page should be used by local governments as a guide to build out their own circular economy efforts, and evaluate their performance, and embrace the smart city technology tools and momentum to help sustain the effort. Policymakers have a role to play in guiding top-down change, and stimulating bottom-up business, residents and community activities to increase urban sustainability.³²

The Ellen MacArthur Foundation has created the ReSOLVE framework, encompassing six circular city principles: Regenerate, Share, Optimize, Loop, Virtualize and Exchange.³⁵ This framework considers the social, economic and environmental dimensions of circularity and sustainability.