Circular Economy
Urban Stock
Definition
Urban stock is the total accumulation of materials embodied in the built environment and durable goods of a society — the steel in structures, copper in wiring, aluminium in frames, rare metals in electronics. Material stock studies show these in-use stocks now rival or exceed remaining geological reserves for some metals, making cities "urban mines": recoverable, concentrated deposits whose exploitation through demolition recovery and product recycling substitutes for primary extraction.
References
This reference provides supporting context for how “Urban Stock” is defined and used.
Source imported for editorial provenance.
Overview
How it is used
The concept structures urban mining and C&D waste policy, material flow accounting, circular construction strategy, and critical raw materials planning (EU CRM Act).
Why it matters
The materials of the future are already built; urban stock is the resource base hiding in plain sight.