London

• Aim to make London a zero waste city
• Zero biodegradable or recyclable waste to be sent to landfill by 2026
• 65% of London’s municipal waste to be recycled by 2030
• Cut food waste by 20% per person by 2025 and 50% by 2030
• Reducing plastic bottle and coffee cups waste
• Reducing consumption-based emissions by two thirds, focusing on food, clothing, electronics and plastics by 2030 (target set by the 33 London boroughs)
• 95% of construction and demolition waste to be reused, recycled or recovered
• Largest construction projects to use at least 20% of recycled or reused materials
• Doubling the size of London’s green economy by 2030

• Cultural challenges to drive a change in residents’ behaviour.
• Absence or insufficient strength of political commitment and practical implementation of circular economy principles into local governments’ policies and operations.
• Absence or insufficient targets against consumption-based emissions from local governments, and a lack of knowledge about the circular economy’s ability to tackle those emissions.
• Absence of a common awareness and understanding of the circular economy principles and benefits from businesses and local governments.
• Circular economy practices can sometimes be more expensive and more time-consuming than usual practices, and so can be financially challenging for businesses and local governments.

• Supporting local governments in embedding circular economy principles within their day-to-day job, including in their procurement and planning processes.
• Monitoring the development of the circular economy within London, by tracking key circular economy-related metrics.
• Simplifying connections and partnerships of small businesses and innovators in the circular economy with corporates and local governments.
• Facilitating knowledge sharing between cities of successful case studies and initiatives to develop the circular economy.

• The current metro area population of London in 2023 is 9,648,000
• London is the financial and cultural capital of UK and the largest city in Europe
• London’s GDP is £503bn
• London’s circular economy currently contributes around £11bn of GVA and 231,000 jobs to London’s economy, a contribution which has the potential to grow to a total of £24.2bn of GVA and 515,000 jobs by 2030
• The circular economy could cut London’s waste by 60%
• The circular economy could cut London’s consumption-based emissions by 34% for emissions related to the consumption of clothing, and by 31% for emissions related to the consumption of food

Links Circular economy effects on waste production in London: impact assessment – report by ReLondon (ENG, PDF)

Zero carbon London: A 1.5ºC compatible plan – Climate Action Plan by Mayor of London (ENG,PDF)

London’s Circular Economy Route Map – report by ReLondon (ENG, PDF)

Circular cities in action: Driving progress through policy – report by ReLondon (ENG, PDF)

London Plan Guidance Circular Economy Statements (ENG, PDF)

The circular economy at work: Jobs and skills for London’s low carbon future – report by ReLondon (ENG, PDF)