Greening the Browns: A Bio-Based Land Use Framework for Analysing the Potential of Urban Brownfields in an Urban Circular Economy
Journal article, 2020

The Circular Economy (CE) is expected to accelerate the use of resources with bio-based origin. Cities have an important role in such an economy, not only as main consumers but also because vegetation provides numerous ecosystem services essential for the well-being of urban dwellers. Urban lands are, however, heavily burdened with both past and present activities and ongoing urbanization. Retrofitting obsolete and potentially contaminated brownfields provides an opportunity to engage with bio-based land uses within the city. At the same time, plants are an important part of Gentle Remediation Options (GROs), a more sustainable alternative for managing contamination risks and restoring soil health. This paper (1) provides a tentative selection of Urban Greenspaces (UGSs) relevant for brownfields, and a compilation of ecosystem services provided by the selected UGSs, and (2) presents a framework covering the 14 selected bio-based land uses on brownfields, including GRO interventions over time. This framework provides three practical tools: the conceptualization of linkages between GROs and prospective UGS uses, a scatter diagram for the realization of 14 UGS opportunities on brownfields, and a decision matrix to analyze the requirements for UGS realization on brownfields.

gentle remediation options (GROs)

urban greenspace (UGS)

brownfields

circular economy (CE)

Author

Shaswati Chowdhury

Chalmers, Architecture and Civil Engineering, Geology and Geotechnics

Jaan-Henrik Kain

Chalmers, Architecture and Civil Engineering, Urban Design and Planning

Marco Adelfio

Chalmers, Architecture and Civil Engineering, Urban Design and Planning

Yevheniya Volchko

Chalmers, Architecture and Civil Engineering, Geology and Geotechnics

Jenny Norrman

Chalmers, Architecture and Civil Engineering, Geology and Geotechnics

Sustainability

20711050 (eISSN)

Vol. 12 15 6278

Opportunities for preparing urban contaminated land for bio-based production

Formas (FR-2017/0007), 2017-01-01 -- 2019-12-31.

Driving Forces

Sustainable development

Areas of Advance

Building Futures (2010-2018)

Subject Categories

Social Sciences Interdisciplinary

Business Administration

Environmental Sciences

DOI

10.3390/SU12156278

More information

Latest update

2/16/2021