On November 9th, the POLIS–ALICE webinar focused on “Enabling Circular Supply Chains in Cities'.
As part of the POLIS-ALICE cooperation agreement, both organisations foster public–private dialogue and partnerships through annual online webinar series and in-person meetings to devise cleaner, more efficient urban logistics solutions.
MoLo Hubs: Circularity at the Neighbourhood Level
During the session “From Movers to Enablers: The Role of Logistics in Circular Supply Chains,” Britta Peters (HiiCCE) presented MoLo Hubs and demonstrated how these modular, local micro-hubs can act as key enablers for retaining materials, value and services within the city.
MoLo Hubs pilots across Aalborg, Amsterdam, Borås, Hamburg and Mechelen demonstrate how logistics, waste, reuse and community functions can be combined into modular, local micro-hubs. These hubs offer services such as:
- Parcel delivery
- Textile and WEEE (Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment) return
- Reuse exchanges
- Hazardous waste drop-off
- Repair functions and more
Reducing extra trips, keeping resources circulating locally, and supporting citizens with convenient, accessible circular services.
Key Messages from the Presentation
Britta highlighted several insights from the MoLo Hubs project and its Living Labs such as:
- Why circular economy needs logistics, and how reverse flows can strengthen local ecosystems
- How MoLoHubs integrate bring–take–exchange functions to reduce in- and outflows of valuable materials
- Insights from our Living Labs: no one-size-fits-all, but modularity and community-centred design are key
- How circular economy and logistics can reinforce each other through shared infrastructure and multi-actor collaboration
The discussion showed a clear message: Logistics actors are not just movers – they are critical enablers of circular urban systems. MoLo Hubs offers practical models for cities ready to bridge zero-emission and zero-waste ambitions.
Source: HiiCCE