Developing circular cities in emerging economies: Investigating circular economy initiatives in the urban food system of two Indonesian cities

Abstract

Cities have become the epicenter of global population and economic agglomerations that significantly consume resources, produce global waste, and release greenhouse gas emissions. Linear economy practices constrain efforts to reach urban sustainability; therefore, a circular city concept has emerged. The question of whether to confine circularity within the city limits or to extend it across diverse territorial boundaries is a subject of ongoing debate. This study aims to contribute to this discourse by examining circular economy initiatives in the urban food system in two Indonesian cities, namely Semarang and Surabaya. Policy documents, networks of actors, motives of circular economy initiatives, and profiles of circular economy businesses were analyzed. The results show that Semarang has a more supportive regulatory framework and a compact network of actors than Surabaya. The paper posits that the territorialization of food circularity cannot be confined to the city limits, as it involves transboundary actors. Still, the city government plays an instrumental role in facilitating the flourishing circular food system, including a conducive environment for community and economic actors to engage with networks beyond the city's jurisdiction. In both cities, circular food initiatives were mainly driven by social and environmental considerations; however, ensuring financial sustainability remained crucial.