Urban Factories and Their Potential Contribution to the Sustainable Development of Cities

More than half of the world's population lives in cities today with the rate of urbanization further increasing. In urban areas the challenges of sustainable development are concentrated. The importance of sustainable cities and communities are recognized in the sustainable development goals by the United Nations, as are sustainable industrial development and responsible production. Industrial production and urban factories are an essential part of growing cities, though commonly associated with a negative environmental impact. To identify the potential contribution of urban factories to the sustainable development and growth of the cities around the world, the characteristics of urban production systems and their surroundings are matched to the sustainable development goals and their targets. Based on this analysis, the potentials are derived identifying the key action areas in which urban production can support economically, ecologically and socially sound cities of the future.