Investing on Circular Economy through Adults

Global consumption is expected to double in the next 40 years, with annual waste generation projected to increase by 70%. The established economic practices based on “take‐make‐use‐dispose" model has degraded the international ecosystem in many respects. Industry and technological innovation alone cannot push to systemic changes needed for transformation. The vast majority of adults have basic idea of what circular culture is. The promotion of CE mindset and practices transnationally can advance individuals’ green skills and competences, build capacity in knowledge and benefit society as a whole. I.CE.A aims to introduce adults to a green way of thinking while adopting and promoting cooperation for the sustainable development of the circular mentality amongst stakeholders. The project aim is to equip adults with all necessary tools and skills towards green entrepreneurial culture. There is scarcity of support in terms of education, guidance and new ideas around ground-breaking areas. At the same time there is an obligation to up-skill and re-skill adults towards an ecological attitude, bridge green experienced stakeholders/individuals with inexperienced ones, and spread the mentality of CE so as to move towards a sustainable era.

The linear economic model of societies depends on threatened resources & results in non-biodegradable waste. CE models aim to bring environmental & social benefits while building economic & social capital. The CE policies impact could lead to reduction of the negative effects on the environment caused by human activity and offer employment opportunities. Investing in adults through the green economy and its practices will increase the impact on social welfare. Taking into account the above, the I.CE.A objectives are: To map the CE diversity in partner countries by green activities screening and development of an interactive map of “Circular Economy”. To design a mini entrepreneurship workshop for adults that promotes green ideas and creates room for employment opportunities through social entrepreneurship practices. To expand the concept of CE and green EU actions through innovative application & QR codes placed in key points at partner countries. Activities focus on adults with interest in entering the circular economy approaches or adults who are not familiar with the CE idea yet wish to enter a new era. Project aims to reinforce initiatives that will shift individuals to adopt a respectful and environmentally friendly attitude.

Project's consortium implemented numerous activities to ensure the maximum influence of the project. During the development of R1 partners arranged roundtables including representatives of local authorities, entrepreneurs, green stakeholders, HE institutions representatives and adults. Additionally, questionnaires to 20 local adults and 20 entrepreneurs both with green attitude and without any eco-friendly mind-set were distributed. All information and results were collected into an Interactive map representing the variety and peculiarities in different countries. The R2 was not approved and financed. R3, the mini workshop on entrepreneurship was organized and implemented with the methodology of “European Awareness Scenario Workshop” developed and tested by the European Commission. There was a training in each partner country involving entrepreneurs and adults with green interests. After the completion of the workshops, a toolkit including all the information, educational activities as well interesting ideas that could be realised in the future was developed. The following result, R4 – Eco QR & application – focused on familiarizing users with different digital approaches that can bring them closer to green activities. Under this result, a mapping of green initiatives in the partner countries was implemented that in continuation was integrated in the development of the I.CE.A application. The application and QR-codes were tested through piloting training in all partner countries. The final R5 was also not approved and financed. A project website was created with versions in English, Bulgarian, Greek, Spanish, French, Italian and German. In addition, a Facebook page and an Instagram profile were created for interesting and useful circular economy publications and news. During the project duration 4 face-to-face and 14 online transnational partner meetings were organised. An Environmental Protocol was signed by all partners with the aim to provide I.CE.A Consortium’s understanding of reduced environmental impact of the project “I.CE.A - Investing on Circular Economy through Adults”. Last but not least, 8 Multiplier Events took place in all project’s countries.

The project was foreseen to have five results, each one dynamically establishing a new attitude towards circular economy activities and providing adults with all the necessary knowledge and support to generate new ideas, develop sustainable action plans and adopt a green way of living. Two of the Results were rejected by the Bulgarian NA and weren’t financed (were cut from implementation). The first result (R1) focused on a state‐of‐the‐art report which included the general framework on circular economy in partner countries, mapped circular economy organizations/ startups and analysed qualitative and quantitative results of stakeholders and beneficiaries connected to circular economy. All the information found out by the partners was composed and conveyed through an “Interactive Map of Circular Economy”. The second result (R2) ‐ GoGreen was not financed and respectively not implemented. The third result (R3) was a Mini-workshop on Green Entrepreneurship which intended to create green savvy young entrepreneurs. The mini entrepreneurship course was designed based on the findings and dynamics of the partner countries yet in‐line with European goals and objectives. The fourth result (R4) consisting the core of the I.CE.A project as a stepping stone towards spreading the circular economy approach ‐ focused on the development of QR codes combined with a mobile application that allows adults to familiarize with circular economy actions and processes both at local and European level. The produced QR codes promoted the application as they were placed on 5 key places in the partners’ countries. The application was developed in such a way that allows users to become promoters of the green mind-set and any circular actions in both national, European or even international level. The final result (R5) - the E-mentoring network of the I.CE.A project was also not approved and rejected to be financed. Additionally, 8 Multiplier Events were organized – one in each partner country. During the Multiplier Events were presented the I.CE.A project and its results in both local and European level. These Multiplier Events were foreseen to work as “food-for-thought” on long-run actions connected to circular economy that would increase even more the impact of the project and its results. The I.CE.A Interactive map was presented together with the Toolkit on Green Entrepreneurship and the green ideas developed in all participating countries during the mini workshops. QR codes were placed in the places of the MEs in order to promote the application with the green initiatives. The events were carried out using recycled materials, reusable energy sources, and any kind of green means.