Urban Lunch Talk #48 - A Project Perspective: Is Public Procurement the Key to Scale Circularity in Cities?

The EU Agenda for Cities highlights how cities can shape demand for circular products and services through public procurement. In this sense, public procurement is reframed as a “strategic investment tool” connected to the construction sector, infrastructure investments and service contracts.  

This Urban Lunch Talk explores insights from the three DUT projects CirCoCreation, NATURO, and SURFIT, highlighting common barriers scaling of circular solutions in cities, and also practical ways forward: co-creation, participatory platforms, inclusive governance, and stronger links between top-down policy and bottom-up community action can help align actors, systems, and levels of governance. 

Drawing from the project experiences, speakers will reflect on why public procurement should be more intentional about incorporating circularity and nature-based solutions; reusing and recycling in construction and engineering services; and implementing incentives that encourage suppliers to adopt circular business models. 

Speakers will share project-based experiences, remaining challenges, and recommendations for public authorities. The session is relevant for practitioners, policymakers, and civil society actors working to scale circular solutions in complex urban contexts.