Perspectives on Socially and Environmentally Just Circular Cities: The Case of Naples

This study starts by evaluating the evolution and current state of the concept of circular city. The latter can be included within a wider window of urban brandings which share in common the visions and applications in cities of more sustainable patterns. We adopted a multiple case study approach to evaluate the adoption of the concept of circular city in Naples. Some organizations located in such area have been selected as they are performing diverse and innovative practices of CE that we framed within the interpretative model of circular development by Williams (2021). Naples has already defined its vision of smart city but lacks of a circular city vision. The results of this study could provide useful insights to the policy makers of the city as well as contribute to the existing research. The analyzed organizations with their CE practices improve the local environment and generate social development promoting much radical models and visions of CE applications in cities. The case studies instill of new opportunities the CE transition in cities suggesting to look at beyond its conventional mindset in waste management and recycling model and showing its potential in reducing the negative externalities of the linear and recycling models.