A recent report by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation found that reshaping how European towns and cities are constructed is essential for unlocking significant economic, environmental, and social benefits by 2035.
The report, titled ‘Building Prosperity: Unlocking the Potential of a Nature-Positive, Circular Economy for Europe’, advocates for the adoption of six circular strategies to transform Europe’s built environment. These strategies are expected to enhance economic activity, improve climate resilience, and make cities more vibrant places to live and work.
The report finds that a circular transformation could meet 90% of Europe’s housing needs while avoiding urban sprawl equivalent to half the size of Belgium and that by 2035, business and society could gain €733 billion annually.
Households and local businesses could see annual savings of €22 billion through reduced energy and water costs. Implementing a circular approach could save 250 million tonnes of construction materials each year.
Greener cities would cut emissions equivalent to removing 12 million cars from the roads and help keep cities cooler during heatwaves.
The report also found that Europe is experiencing unprecedented destruction of its natural environment, with the region’s climate warming faster than any other continent. Economic losses from heatwaves, droughts, and floods are projected to rise.
The construction sector significantly contributes to this problem, accounting for over 35% of Europe’s total waste and more than a third of greenhouse gas emissions.
Jocelyn Blériot, Executive Lead for Policy & Institutions at the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, said, “Europe’s built environment is central to its economy but it is currently too resource-intensive and disconnected from nature. It doesn’t have to be this way. The circular economy, in contrast, gives us the tools to maximise the expansion of green space, make the most of existing buildings, and make better design and material choices. Our research has identified six strategies, rooted in circular economy principles, which can unlock this potential, delivering widespread benefits to business, society and the environment.”
The Foundation, an international charity focused on promoting the circular economy, highlights Europe’s cities as key economic hubs with the potential to drive a prosperous and resilient European economy. The report recommends strategies such as revitalising brownfield sites and abandoned buildings, enhancing urban green spaces, and optimising building design and material sourcing to minimise the need for new materials.
Jerome Frost, Chair of Arup Group, who is among a group of experts that provided input into the Building Prosperity report, said, “In our built environment, every building, every street, every neighbourhood offers us a chance to embrace innovative circular design. But we will only unlock this positive change at scale by bringing together designers, policymakers, businesses and investors. What is abundantly clear is that nature must become a priority issue as we transition towards a regenerative built environment that balances growth with human and societal wellbeing for long-term prosperity.”