The City of Richmond plans to buy more sustainably with a goal of optimizing the value of the products it uses to run the city.
This is part of a new proposed policy to apply the principle of a “circular economy” to everything the city procures, from construction material and professional services to its vehicle fleet and IT equipment.
A circular system is about retaining the value of products during their lifecycle and improving performance at their end-of-life.
The Ellen MacArthur Foundation defines a circular economy as one that looks past the “take-make-waste extractive industrial” model, redefines growth and focuses on positive benefits for society as a whole.
The long-term goal, going from a linear economy to a circular one, is to achieve 100 per cent circularity, according to a city staff report going to council next week.
The report notes the United Nations and some cities say a 25-per-cent circular economy is possible by 2023 and between 75 and 100 per cent is possible by 2035.
But, the report notes, the process is on-going and will need education, engagement with suppliers and updates to procedures and guidelines.
Some examples cited by the city report include an alternative fuel pilot project and reducing construction waste.
