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Driving the circular economy: transformation in the Lodzkie region and beyond

FRONTSH1P has developed a new project called CircuPuncture, which is a new Circular Governance Model to promote the circular transformation of several regions across Europe, and implement a circular economy at the local level. 

The model focuses on developing resource management strategies and supporting bottom-up policies adapted to the local conditions.

© Fly Dragon Fly/Shutterstock.com 2024

 

About the project

The aim of the project is the circular transformation of the Lodzkie Region in Poland and the replication of the applied model of circular revolution in four other regions in Portugal, the Netherlands, Italy and Greece. The FRONTSH1P project implements Circular Systemic Solutions (CSS) to transform the region from a linear economy (take-make-use-dispose) to a circular one in four areas: wood packaging, food and feed, water and nutrients, plastic and rubber. The technological CSS aims to be resource-efficient, to deal with climate change, and reduce CO₂ emissions into the atmosphere.

Description of success

The project participants discovered that if there is a high level of market and governance failure in the management of resources and raw materials (including waste) in the region, the top-down approach of circular policy implementation is ineffective. Therefore, the project's success is based on creating a new adaptive methodology for implementing a circular economy at the local level (in the municipality or other smaller territorial social cooperatives). FRONTSH1P's new Circular Governance Model – CircuPuncture – has been implemented in an association of local and territorial governments in the Lodzkie Region and in the town of Parzęczew. The method is a resource-based approach to development and involves the preparation of resource management strategies, based on resource missions, innovation, targeted interventions in areas with incomplete resource loops, and community involvement. The model is universal and has been replicated in Portugal, Greece, Italy and the Netherlands. For example, CircuPuncture’s systemic solutions for growing oilseed crops in marginal areas for bioplastic production have been tested in Parzęczew, and a containerised biogas plant is being installed to harness bio-waste from the school cafeteria. Waste management is 100% and energy from the biogas plant is used to produce energy for the school's educational greenhouse (installation in progress).  

Highlights

  • CircuPuncture is an innovative, resource-based approach to resource management at the local level. 

  • Circular Territorial Cluster is a condition for effective resource orientation of development policy in the region. 

  • Local government leaders need to be involved in the process of circular transformation at the territorial level. 

  • Process of building a resource management strategy needs the awareness and active participation of governments, citizens, scientists and entrepreneurs.

  • Preparing the CircuPuncture strategy requires knowledge of the goals and results of implemented projects by territorial stakeholders, but a typical socio-economic diagnosis of the region is not required. 

  • 4NO filter and World café tools are effective for the selection of Resource Missions in a resource-based approach to building local development strategies.

  • Targeted interventions for circular challenges are effectively implemented using heuristic methods in sandbox or living lab environments.

Outputs

CircuPuncture has produced several outputs, including tools and test results, which are being used to promote the circular transformation of the regions. These include:

  • Circular Economic Action Plan for Circular Territorial Cluster in the Lodzkie Region: preparation of a local circular action plan for specific resource missions and circular challenges. The plan is in line with Circular economy action plan (CEAP) and the European Green Deal, and it is replicable. 

  • Regional Stakeholder Activity Convergence Compass tool: to measure the level of local stakeholder activity convergence. 

  • Benchmarking of resource use directions: containerised biogas plant dedicated to micro-scale waste management. 

  • Favourable results of marginal lands test for oilseed crop production in the town of Parzęczew. 

  • Favourable test results for the use of CO₂ for the production of insulation rubber at K-Flex.

Impact

The Universal CircuPuncture Model is an attractive method for circular transformation at the local and micro levels. There are plans to implement circular development strategies in organisations outside the FRONTSH1P project, such as other local government units, housing cooperatives and universities, under a non-profit or for-profit consulting formula. 

Lessons

  • CircuPuncture Governance Model: in regions where there is strong opposition and lack of acceptance of circular activities, is an effective way to implement a circular local economy.

  • Social involvement is essential: for both awareness and ‘prosumption’ dimensions for circular transformation of the territory. 

  • Dialogue Councils: involving key territorial partners focused on Resource Mission are a success factor for circular transformation of the region.

Other information

High levels of market and government failures, including low effectiveness of incentives, and low flexibility of interpretation of rules and laws in the region, prevented the application of an anticipatory development strategy. To solve this problem, a methodology was developed for preparing strategies and operational activities in adaptive mode – the CircuPuncture Model. 

Circular Cluster

Figure 1: CircuPuncture Process  © FRONTSH1P 2024
 


Figure 2: FRONTSH1P Event © FRONTSH1P 2024

Project details

Project name
FRONTSH1P
Working group
Knowledge and citizens