Grant agreement ID: 690047
DOI
Project closed
EC signature date3 May 2016
Start date1 June 2016
End date31 May 2019
This summary provides a structured overview of the Urban_Wins project, which focused on the “Urban Metabolism” approach to transform waste management into a circular, participatory process across European cities.
Project Context & Objectives
Urban_Wins addressed the inefficiency of traditional waste policies by applying Urban Metabolism (UM)—a model that treats cities like living organisms, analyzing the flow of materials, energy, and water to optimize consumption.
- The UMAn Model: Applied to 7 pilot cities to map material flows (inflows vs. outflows), identifying where raw materials come from and where waste ends up.
- Participatory Planning: Beyond just data, the project aimed to co-design waste strategies with the people actually living and working in these cities.
- The Goal: To move from reactive waste management to proactive, circular urban planning that reduces dependence on raw materials.
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) & Outcomes
The project successfully integrated scientific data with massive stakeholder engagement to produce measurable results.
| KPI Category | Achievement |
| Stakeholder Reach | 1,435 total participants in physical agoras; 637 online users |
| City Profiles | 7 Urban Metabolism accounts and 8 Strategic Frameworks |
| Pilot Actions | 26 actions implemented, reaching over 760,000 citizens |
| Small Businesses | 1,000 SMEs involved in circular practice integration |
| Strategy Development | 164 action proposals generated across 34 priority areas |
| Data Tools | 23 datasets defined in a manual for Material Flow Analysis (MFA) |
Main Deliverables & Work Performed
Urban_Wins produced a comprehensive toolkit for city planners and researchers to replicate their success:
1. The Urban Metabolism Toolkit
- MFA Manual: A guide for collecting the 23 datasets needed to analyze a city’s material flows.
- Indicator Dashboard: A set of metabolism indicators for 8 pilot cities to monitor progress toward circularity.
- Policy Analysis: A review of waste strategies across 6 EU countries (Italy, Spain, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, and Austria).
2. The “Agoras” (Participatory Model)
- Physical & Online Agoras: Created a space for citizens, NGOs, and SMEs to co-design 164 action proposals.
- 26 Pilot Actions: Real-world testing of ideas, ranging from school awareness campaigns to local waste management plans (e.g., in Manresa).
3. Roadmaps for the Future
- 8 Local Roadmaps: Specific paths for pilot cities to reach a circular economy.
- 1 EU Roadmap: A high-level strategic document to guide future urban planning at the European level.
Socio-Economic & Societal Impact
The project demonstrated that science-based planning is more effective when paired with social engagement.
- Environmental Benefit: Direct reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, soil use, and hazardous substances through optimized material flows.
- Social Cohesion: The “Agoras” strengthened the sense of community belonging, giving citizens a voice in “the common good” and urban welfare.
- Economic Shift: By involving 1,000 SMEs, the project catalyzed the transition to circular business models, reducing costs associated with raw material consumption.
- Replicability: The modular Urban_Wins toolkit allows any EU city to adopt these methods, whether they want to focus on data (MFA) or stakeholder participation (Agoras).
