Circular city-making

Cities are the world's metabolism. They absorb enormous flows of raw materials – metals, plastics, concrete, fibres, food, water, energy, critical minerals – and generate the largest share of waste, both urban and industrial. But they are also where the circular economy becomes real: urban density makes Product-as-a-Service viable, gives rise to new business models built on repair, second-hand and redesign, and turns one sector's waste into another's resource.
This session reframes the conversation: cities not as a problem to be managed, but as a strategic lever to accelerate circular transition. From next-generation waste collection to innovative circular districts, from citizen education to urban entrepreneurship, speakers will bring concrete, city-scale cases to bear on a question that remains unresolved: how do we unblock the bottlenecks holding back urban circularity — and who should lead the change: institutions, businesses, or citizens?
An open, evidence-based debate. With solutions that work, for PA professionals and businesses alike, ready to innovate and implement.

Session Chairs

Emanuele Bompan, Materia Rinnovabile – Renewable Matter
Davide Agazzi, Founder FROM Srl

Program

11.30 Introduction by the Chairs

11.35 The role of circular cities
Erica Locatelli, ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability

11.50 Fireside chat
Joan Subirats, Professor Emeritus of Political Science, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB)
Davide Agazzi, Founder FROM Srl

12.05 Round Table #1 - Real Circular Cities: entrepreneurship, new business model, repair shops, tool libraries, sharing and much more

Moderator:
Emanuele Bompan, Materia Rinnovabile – Renewable Matter

Speakers:
Alberto Pizzocchero, Circular Economy Expert, Directorate for Urban Economy, Fashion and Design, Municipality of Milan
Silvia Pericu, Councillor for the Environment, Waste Management, Sustainability and the Circular Economy at the City of Genoa
Susana Costa, Operations and Project Management Coordinator at the Landscape Laboratory (Laboratório da Paisagem) in Guimarães
Deborah Pantana, Councilor for the Environment, City of Macerata

13.05 Closing Speech
Alessandro Frigerio, AG&P greenscape

13.10 Discussion and closure by the Chairs