New Community of Practice Launched to Accelerate Local Circular Action How can cities move from individual circular economy efforts to systemic change? In the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), a new initiative is taking this question head-on. With the launch of the Community of Practice (CoP) Circular Cities NRW, a state-wide platform will connect key actors and turn shared ambition into collective action. Funded by the State Office for Nature, Environment, and Climate North Rhine-Westphalia (LANUK), the CoP Circular Cities NRW builds on the strong momentum of the thematic working group on circular cities, initiated and co-led since 2024 by the state government of North Rhine-Westphalia together with the CSCP. What started as a space for exchange quickly revealed a growing need: stakeholders were looking for more continuity, deeper collaboration, and practical formats to move from ideas to implementation. The new Community of Practice responds to this demand by bringing together municipalities, businesses, research institutions, and civil society from across the state. Its goal, simple but ambitious: to make existing circular solutions more visible, enable peer exchange, and scale what works. Rather than relying on one-off meetings, the CoP offers a stable space for collaboration. A digital platform will support continuous exchange and shared learning, while in-person workshops, thematic working groups, and hands-on formats such as field trips or “lessons learned” sessions will bring participants together to tackle real challenges and co-develop solutions. At the heart of the initiative lies a shift from dialogue to action. Participants will work together in thematic groups on topics such as circular procurement, governance approaches, or citizen engagement—turning their experiences into practical outputs that can be applied and adapted by others. By linking these efforts to national and European initiatives, the CoP also opens up new opportunities for visibility and mutual learning beyond North Rhine-Westphalia, strengthening the region’s role as an emerging frontrunner in circular city development. The official kick-off will take place on 30 April 2026. Stakeholders from municipalities, businesses, research, and civil society are invited to join and help shape the future of circular cities in North Rhine-Westphalia. To join the kick-off and for follow up questions, please contact Dr. Shirin Betzler.