What We Are Learning From our Community of Practice Circular Cities in NRW Many local actors find themselves grappling with the same challenge: while innovative circular initiatives are emerging everywhere, opportunities to learn from one another and build on existing experiences remain limited. With the launch of the Community of Practice (CoP) Circular Cities NRW, we are aiming to fill this gap. As part of the Community of Practice we are bringing together municipalities, researchers, businesses, public authorities, and civil society organisations to exchange experiences, co-develop solutions, and accelerate the circular transition of cities across North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW). How CoP NRW came into being The need for such a platform became increasingly apparent through the Circular Cities thematic working group established in 2024 as part of North Rhine-Westphalia’s Round Table on Circular Value Creation. Participants repeatedly expressed interest for deeper collaboration, more continuity, and practical formats that go beyond one-off exchanges. At the CoP’s kick-off meeting in Düsseldorf, Germany around 30 participants from municipal administrations, research institutions, the NRW state government, chambers of commerce and skilled crafts (IHK/HWK), and civil society organisations came together to explore how a stronger community could help advance circular city development in practice. What we are learning Dr. Shirin Betzler, who manages the project from the CSCP side, shares that what stands out is not only the diversity of perspectives in the room, but also the remarkably high level of engagement. “Discussions quickly moved beyond general ambitions and focused on concrete challenges participants face in their daily work—from engaging stakeholders and breaking down silos within organisations to identifying practical governance approaches, financing mechanisms, and ways of communicating circular economy concepts to different audiences.”, says Shirin. What the Community of Practice participants are saying For the Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Transport of North Rhine-Westphalia (MUNV), the initiative represents an important contribution to strengthening circular economy implementation across the state. “For North Rhine-Westphalia, the circular economy is a key lever for sustainable and resilient economic and urban development. The Community of Practice Circular Cities NRW helps to make knowledge from existing initiatives and projects more visible, fosters collaboration, and accelerates the transfer of good practices between municipalities and other stakeholders. We are creating a platform with the potential to strengthen the strategic implementation of circular economy approaches in cities and scale them more broadly – a key objective of the Ministry,” says Cornelius Laaser, Head of Unit for Resource Efficiency and Circular Economy at MUNV. An important topic for many participants is the challenge of reaching and engaging the right stakeholders. This is where municipalities see one of the greatest opportunities offered by the Community of Practice. “Many municipalities are already working on circular solutions, often under very different conditions and with limited resources. The Community of Practice provides an opportunity to exchange experiences, learn from one another, and avoid reinventing the wheel. What is particularly valuable for us is the direct dialogue with other cities as well as with researchers, businesses, and public authorities. This enables us to jointly develop solutions that truly work in municipal practice.”, says Dilek Uzunyurt from the Office of Economic Development, Stolberg. Broader considerations for circular economy in cities Several participants argued for reframing circular economy discussions around themes such as resilience, economic competitiveness, crisis preparedness, and social inclusion. Such framing could help strengthen political support and facilitate collaboration across departments and stakeholder groups. The question of how municipalities can learn more systematically from one another also featured prominently. Participants discussed the value of practical “blueprints”, transferable tools, and peer-learning formats that would allow cities to adapt proven approaches rather than starting from scratch. “The transition towards circular cities requires not only innovative concepts, but also spaces where research and practice can come together. The Community of Practice creates exactly this connection. It enables scientific insights to be linked with the experiences of municipal actors, allows challenges to be reflected upon collectively, and supports the further development of new approaches based on real-world needs. In this way, it creates a valuable learning environment for everyone involved,” says Dr. Imke Schmidt, Co-Director of the Circular Society Research Division, at the Wuppertal Institute. Check out the just launched Digital Collaboration Platform To support this continuous exchange beyond in-person meetings, the Community of Practice has now launched its own digital collaboration platform. The platform combines short-form messaging, a shared calendar, collaborative documentation, and knowledge management functions, providing members with a space to stay connected, exchange resources, and continue discussions between events. “At CSCP, this is where we see the greatest potential of the initiative. Circular cities will not emerge from a single strategy, technology, or flagship project, but from collective efforts of many actors learning together, experimenting together, and building on each other’s experiences.”, says Shirin. To engage with us and learn more about the Digital Collaboration Platform, please contact Dr. Shirin Betzler.