© Jonna Clasen
INTERREG Circ@Home
The circular economy is a central concept in many climate action plans, but is often only vaguely described. One thing is clear: the traditional understanding of “waste” is a thing of the past. Instead of focusing exclusively on the disposal of products at the end of their life cycle, cities and consumers should act preventively. This means making sustainable purchasing decisions, extending the lifespan of products and using resources more efficiently.
For the circular economy to be successfully implemented, it requires a combination of three key elements. Firstly, supporting framework conditions such as suitable infrastructure and institutions are necessary. Secondly, local initiatives – both non-profit and for-profit – are needed to put the concept into practice. Thirdly, households must also be able to adapt their lifestyles and act in a circular way. For this to succeed, they in turn need suitable infrastructure and service.
The Circ@Home project pursues precisely this goal: to promote circularity on three levels – city, household and services. This integrated approach connects municipalities, the services they offer and, above all, households in order to jointly develop sustainable solutions, change lifestyles and positively influence each other. In order to facilitate changes in behavior, the project develops innovative solutions and tests them in pilot projects. A central element is the introduction of “Circularity Hubs”, which serve as a platform for all stakeholders. Training programs are intended to multiply the project results locally and support the transition to a circular economy.
A functioning circular economy can only emerge if these three areas – framework conditions, local initiatives and households – work closely together and support each other.
Project details
- Project name: Circ@Home
- Project management: Kiel University
- Subject areas: Circular Economy, Sustainable lifestyles, Waste management
- Funded by: INTERREG Baltic Sea Region
- Duration: 03/2025 – 02/2028
- Project website: https://interreg-baltic.eu/project/circhome/
Participating countries
Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia
Project employees
Project management at Baltic Environmental Forum Germany:
Other employees:
The Circ@Home project is funded by the INTERREG Baltic Sea Region program of the European Union.
