Why is the human element crucial for ciruclar economy, and what kind of stakeholder engagement can support circular solutions?
The CIRCUIT project (2026-2029) supports the transition of European industrial territories towards a sustainable, circular and climate-neutral future by combining innovative governance, digital tools and participatory methodologies. Its objectives include providing territories with new tools and models for collaboration, strengthening understanding of circularity and climate mitigation, and developing systemic solutions that respond to locally identified needs and challenges. A central element of this approach is co-creation, engaging relevant stakeholders in integrated, participatory and multi-level processes so that solutions are developed together with the communities and organisations expected to implement them. Through its Hubs and locally embedded activities, CIRCUIT provides environments in which stakeholders can collaborate, test and adapt solutions to specific territorial contexts, while building long-term cooperative structures. In this way, the project seeks not only to demonstrate innovative approaches, but also to embed circularity and climate mitigation into local planning and management practices and support their longer-term uptake. The Centre for Social Innovation is leading the work package on stakeholder engagment, ecosystem-, needs. and gap analyses and co-creation at the intersection of technologies, industries and urban communities.
Find out in the CIRCUIT Voices video featuring the ZSI experts Pamela Bartar and Daniela Fuchs how participatory approaches can support circularity (button below).
