Circular Economy Municipality of the Year competition to inspire local circular economy actions

Challenge

Municipality authorities play a central role in enabling new circular economy solutions through, for example, procurement, land-use planning and local services. At present, not all municipalities have begun to promote the circular economy and to highlight the opportunities it can provide.

Solution

The Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities and the Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE) encourage Finnish towns to operate in compliance with the circular economy by means of a competition that presents the annual Circular Economy Municipality of the Year award. The competition criteria may be related to a different theme each year, such as making it possible for consumers to make sustainable choices, the enhancement of societal structures that promote the circular economy and sustainable public procurement. The competition also offers a way of providing information about what kinds of measures municipalities could take to promote the circular economy.