Scaling Circular Cities: Community-Led Plastic Solutions for Climate and Green Jobs

Cities are on the frontlines of the climate and plastic pollution crises, yet many urban policies overlook the grassroots actors and informal systems already sustaining reuse, recovery, and local circular economies. This session translates findings from the peer-reviewed study “Grassroots-Led Democratized Plastic Governance as a Pathway to Advancing Planetary Health” (https://doi.org/10.3390/challe17010009) into practical insights for cities and subnational governments.

Drawing on #RestorationX10000 initiative and implementation experiences from 2021 - 2025 across multiple frontline communities and cities in 21 developing countries in Africa, Asia-Pacific and Latin America, speakers will demonstrate how integrating grassroots knowledge into urban circular economy strategies, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) systems, and National Plastic Action Plans can strengthen policy outcomes.

The session will catalyze partnerships between cities, researchers, private sectors, informal actors, and community innovators to scale reuse and refill systems, reduce plastic pollution and lifecycle emissions, and create inclusive green jobs for climate-resilient urban futures.