As the first official FAB Region in Germany, the Bergisch City triangle of Wuppertal, Solingen, and Remscheid is shaping into a real-world testing ground for a co-creative transition toward a circular, sustainable, resilient and locally productive region. But, what kind of a difference can a strong repair culture and circular textiles really make?
Cities and regions are becoming places where meaningful change begins. Two recent initiatives of our FAB Region project demonstrate how co-creative and community-driven innovation can accelerate the transition towards a sustainable circular economy region. Both initiatives show how repair, reuse, and community participation strengthen local value creation, sustainable behaviour, and social cohesion. They also offer approaches that can be transferred to other Fab Cities and Regions worldwide.
Building a Culture of Repair: NRW Repair Wuppertal 2.0
A networking meeting of NRW 2.0 (Netzwerktreffen Reparatur Wuppertal) brought together repair cafés, open workshops and other civil society initiatives from across North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW). The event took place across two repair spaces in Wuppertal, Arrenbergstatt and Brockenhaus. What we witnessed was not just a gathering of tinkerers, but a demonstration of how bottom-up infrastructure contributes to peer-to-peer learning, collective action and community agency.
Participants shared what they do to bring devices back to life and extend product lifetimes, practices that are becoming increasingly important in a world of fragile supply chains.
Repairing is social infrastructure
A live demonstration by electrical expert, Lars Gauster on rapid fault diagnosis showcased how technical expertise can be made accessible and empowering rather than exclusive. Afternoon discussions moved beyond tools and techniques, addressing the structural side: how community-driven repair initiatives can find suitable spaces, attract young members, secure funding, and demonstrate measurable social and environmental impact.
From these conversations emerged a shared realisation: Repairing is a social infrastructure. It generates trust, intergenerational learning, and a sense of agency, qualities essential for resilient Fab Cities and Regions.
The group set to start a new communication channel, start work on first collaborative projects, and plan regular online exchanges. For the global Fab City community, this is an example of how regional networking can transform small, local repair actions into a scalable ecosystem.
Strengthening Circular Textiles: The Secondhand Roundtable
Textiles are one of the core sectors in the FAB Region project. To advance local circularity, we initiated our first Secondhand Roundtable in Wuppertal, bringing together secondhand shops, social businesses, reuse-focused organisations, and upcycling initiatives.
The group highlighted two major systemic challenges:
The management of non-wearable textiles, which currently overwhelm regional actors
Up to 60% of incoming donations are unusable, creating significant costs, labour demands, and logistical challenges. The rise of ultra-fast-fashion has intensified the problem by flooding the system with low-quality clothing that cannot be resold or upcycled. Participants agreed that the region urgently needs new recovery pathways, such as local recycling facilities, stable partnerships for downcycling and textile-to-textile recycling, and joint procurement of sorting services.
The (lack of) visibility of secondhand textiles, which still suffers from outdated perceptions
Many shops operate with limited visibility, modest store design, and a public image that restricts access to broader customer groups. Raising awareness of high-quality secondhand clothing is essential not only ecologically but economically, as these stores often play a key role in social inclusion and local employment.
How FAB Region is Creating Solutions
In response to these challenges, the FAB Region project is working on various solutions. One example could be brining to life a central textile hub where clothes and other textiles could be processed and recycled as the valuable materials they are. We are actively seeking valid business models for this purpose. Furthermore, the FAB Region is developing communication tools, such as flyers, and digital solutions to raise awareness of all the secondhand initiatives in the region. Our upcoming FAB Festival in autumn 2026 will run with repair and reuse as central themes.
Learn more about the next Secondhand Roundtable, which takes place on 3 March 2026 here.
Outlook: A Model for Other Fab Cities and Fab Regions
The FAB Region Bergisch City triangle is still work in progress, but such initiatives already demonstrate how bottom-up engagement, community engagement, and circular infrastructure can accelerate circularity on a local level and advance the Fab City mission.
By sharing these stories with the global Fab City community, we hope to contribute to a deeper understanding of how regions, especially those with strong industrial heritage, can reinvent themselves through community-led circularity. Our experience shows that the transition toward a regenerative, locally productive future begins with people who repair together, rethink materials together, and build new forms of collaboration.
We look forward to connecting with other cities and regions worldwide to exchange methods, co-develop tools, and strengthen the global movement toward distributed, sustainable and resilient urban futures.
For further questions, please contact Nils Kreft.
Image in the text: Janina Zogass – Bergische Gesellschaft
The Top Brand Corporate Sustainability 2026 by EUPD Research recognises CSCP’s collaborative efforts, inclusive approach, and innovative work in mainstreaming sustainable consumption and production. The EUPD Research is a leading global certification body that takes an innovative approach to developing quality models for certifying organisations, providing guidance in a dynamic market landscape. In 2025, the CSCP was the first non-profit organisation to receive this certification.
“Receiving this certification for the second time, in the year that marks our 20th anniversary, is a recognition of our joint work with actors spanning industry, policy, civil society, and communities to mainstream sustainability in the mass market and advance toward our vision of a good life for all”, says Michael Kuhndt, CSCP Executive Director.
Speaking about the significance of the certification on CSCP’s future work, Kuhndt highlights the importance of collaboration, even when actors start from different standpoints.
“In today’s shifting geopolitical context, which affects markets and societies alike, we need to learn not to shy away from our differences. Only through open and constructive dialogue can we build shared understanding and develop resilient, forward-looking solutions.”, notes Kuhndt.
Alexander Mannweiler, Head of the Sustainable Businesses and Entrepreneurship team at the CSCP, observes how more and more market players are becoming alert to uncertain framework conditions. As a result, companies are increasingly recognising the value of integrating sustainability more profoundly into their business strategies in order to build resilience and ensure long-term economic success.
“Twenty years of experience and learning clearly demonstrate that sustainability is not a trend but an asset. We remain committed to accompanying businesses in their journeys to sharpen the competitive edge and become future-proof.”, notes Mannweiler.
Since its foundation in 2005, the CSCP has worked with partners from all fields to mainstream sustainable solutions toward enabling a good life for all. As an international Think and Do tank, CSCP projects and collaborations span the globe, capturing emerging trends and promising innovations to enable positive change.
Building on its two-decade excellence and the need to scale the sustainable transformation, the CSCP has launched the co-do! lab.
The co-do lab is a dynamic do-tank and social enterprise that guides businesses, cities, and civil society organisations through their sustainability transformation journeys.
To learn more about our work, read about the CSCP areas of expertise and our current key topics.
For additional questions, please contact Dr. Flandra Syla-Beqiri.
The key to a successful circular economy lies not only in technology, but also in skills, innovative thinking, and the smarter use of data. In our Digital Centre WertNetzWerke, we are hosting two webinars that explore how future skills and Artificial Intelligence (AI) can become powerful enablers for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) on their path toward sustainable, resilient, and competitive business models.
The webinar “Circular Economy and Future Skills” focuses on the human dimension of sustainability. You will explore why future skills, such as systems thinking, digital literacy and collaborative problem-solving, are essential for embedding circular practices into everyday business operations.
The webinar highlights how organisations can equip their teams with the competencies needed to navigate complex sustainability challenges and capitalise on opportunities arising from the circular transition.
Date: 29 January 2026 Time: 10:00-11:00 Place: Online Language: German Cost: Free of charge
To join the webinar, please register here.
The webinar “How Artificial Intelligence Supports the Circular Economy” takes you on a journey to explore the role of AI in enabling resource efficiency, process optimisation, and data-driven decision-making within circular business models. Through accessible explanations and real-world use cases, we illustrate how AI tools can help organisations minimise waste streams, improve material utilisation and introduce innovative approaches to long-term sustainable value creation.
Secure your spot by registering now.
Date: 4 February 2026 Time: 10:00-11:00 Place: Online Language: German Cost: Free of charge Who can join?
The webinars are designed for practitioners and decision-makers from SMEs who want to better understand how skills development and digital tools can work together to unlock the full potential of the circular economy.
The Digital Centre WertNetzWerke works to bridge sustainability and digital innovation, helping organisations navigate complex transformation paths with actionable insight and a supportive community. As the landscape of circular economy evolves, equipping people with the right skills and tools remains key to unlocking systemic, sustainable impact.
For further questions, please contact Janna Prager.
What motivates people to choose new protein options and what holds them back? Across 11 European countries, consumers explored how changes in choice, environment, communication and culture can shift diets toward alternative proteins. The results reveal what it takes for sustainable alternative proteins to become a realistic everyday choice.
The transition toward healthier and more sustainable diets is high on Europe’s agenda, yet, progress depends on whether citizens are willing and enabled to choose differently. To better understand these real-world dynamics, the EU-funded project, LIKE-A-PRO launched a series of Living Labs in 11 countries (Norway, Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands, Poland, Slovenia, Greece, Germany, Spain, Turkey, and Italy).
These Labs engaged citizens directly in familiar consumption contexts such as supermarkets, canteens, homes, and neighbourhoods, turning everyday food decisions into learning moments.
Participants explored how alternative proteins fit into their lifestyles through guided discovery, sensory testing, and co-creation, revealing what truly influences choices. A full detailed overview of the LIKE-A-PRO Living Labs process has been outlined in the Living Labs Governance Framework and Living Labs Implementation Manual reports.
Drawing on the Consumer Choice Framework, each Living Lab iteration uncovered critical behavioural insights. Some of these are summarised below:
Choice editing – editing the portfolio of available products
Participants supported reducing the prominence of high footprint foods, particularly when the intention and benefits were clear. Limiting less sustainable options, for example in buffet layouts or store aisles, helped reduce “auto-pilot” decisions shaped by habit and brand loyalty. Importantly, fairness and freedom of choice remained non-negotiable values.
Choice expansion – making better options visible and viable
Consumers’ willingness to buy increased significantly when alternative proteins were easy to find, well-marketed, and priced competitively. Curiosity grew when products looked, tasted, and could be cooked like familiar favourites, enabling a shift without requiring a lifestyle overhaul. Participants stressed that novelty is exciting when rooted in familiarity.
Choice environment – guiding consumers with confidence and curiosity
Taste-first experiences, such as sampling or cooking demos, helped overcome initial hesitation. Social proof (“others are choosing this”) boosted confidence, especially among more cautious consumers. Clear, credible information on labels and at point-of-sale was shown to build trust, while excessive detail led to confusion and disengagement.
Beyond choice – embracing identity, culture and emotion
Food traditions strongly shape what feels “right.” Participants welcomed sustainable options that complemented local cuisines rather than replacing them. Positive and empowering narratives such flavour, enjoyment, pride were preferred over loss-based approaches.
Ultimately, the findings of our LIKE-A-PRO iterations suggest that long-term shifts to sustainable diets will succeed not by asking consumers to abandon their lifestyles altogether, but rather by enabling them to eat sustainable diets that are still authentic, culturally relevant, and joyful.
“It has to taste great first — sustainability comes next”, noted a Living Lab participant from Spain.
The full set of insights, including country differences and detailed preference trends, is now available in the Living Lab Insight Report, a useful resource for businesses designing new products, policymakers shaping food strategies, and communities aiming to improve everyday wellbeing.
These findings are already shaping the next phase: behavioural pilots that will test promising real-life interventions in homes, canteens, and retail environments, alongside new governance mechanisms to support local adoption and long-term uptake.
Europeans are ready to put sustainable food on their plates. The question now is: (how) will the food system keep up?
For more information and collaboration opportunities, please contact Arlind Xhelili.
Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash.
Embedding sustainability into day-to-day business operations remains a major challenge for many organisations. While Artificial Intelligence (AI) offers new opportunities to support strategy development, implementation, and communication, practical guidance on how to use AI meaningfully in sustainability management is often missing. This is where our new prompting guide comes in.
What is it?
In our Digital Centre WertNetzWerke, we developed the Prompting Guide for Sustainability Management, an online demonstrator that helps organisations explore how AI tools can be applied in a practical and structured way. The easy-to-use tool translates sustainability challenges into concrete use cases where AI can support everyday work across various organisational fields.
How it works?
The prompting guide is structured along three core areas of sustainability management: strategy, implementation, and capacity building. For each area, it provides concise explanations and ready-to-use AI prompts that can be copied and pasted, adapted and tested directly. These prompts support tasks such as developing sustainability strategies, structuring action plans, preparing internal communication or supporting learning processes within organisations.
Who is it for?
A key objective of the demonstrator is accessibility. The prompting guide is designed for users and companies with little or no prior experience in working with AI. It aims to lower entry barriers and encourage experimentation, while fostering a critical and reflective approach to the use of AI in sustainability contexts.
The demonstrator enables companies to test, reflect on, and evaluate various sustainability strategies before implementing them. In doing so, the demonstrator supports the realistic use of AI as a sparring partner for sustainability and circular economy issues within their own company.
By combining sustainability expertise with digital innovation, the Prompting Guide supports organisations in navigating the growing complexity of sustainability requirements and digital transformation. It offers a practical starting point for those looking to integrate AI into their sustainability work in a purposeful, responsible and value-oriented way.
Start exploring our Prompting Guide for Sustainability Management now!
Applications are now open for the 2026 Biodiversity Award for Businesses. Companies of all sizes and from all sectors in Germany are invited to showcase their contributions to biodiversity, whether on-site or across their supply chains.
Biodiversity is no longer just an ecological concern; it is also the foundation of sustainable and resilient business practices. The Biodiversity Award for Business 2026 recognises companies that are actively committed to protecting and promoting biodiversity, either on their premises or within their supply and value chains.
As part of the UBi project (Unternehmen Biologische Vielfalt – Business and Biodiversity), the award gives businesses the chance to raise awareness of their efforts and inspire others with practical solutions. It is open to companies of all sizes and sectors that have a registered office or are conducting business activities in Germany.
The 2026 award focuses on two categories:
In each category, one large company and one small or medium-sized enterprise (SME) will be recognised. Additionally, the Public Choice Award will be granted based on an open vote.
Winners will receive public recognition, professional media visibility, communication support, and a complimentary one-year membership of the Biodiversity in Good Company Initiative.
Apply for the prize by sending in your application by 28 February 2026. Further details and the application form are available here.
The award is part of the UBi project (Unternehmen Biologische Vielfalt – Business and Biodiversity), which is funded by the German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN) under the German Federal Programme on Biological Diversity, using resources from the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMUKN).
UBi is implemented by a consortium of five organisations: the Biodiversity in Good Company Initiative, the Bodensee Foundation, the DIHK Service GmbH, the Global Nature Fund and the CSCP.
The Biodiversity Award for Business supports the German National Biodiversity Strategy 2030. It encourages the sharing of ideas, showcases successful strategies and drives the integration of biodiversity into standard business practices.
Follow this website to find out more about the previous competition from 2023.
For further questions, please contact Katrin Hüttepohl.
Photo: Walter Weinbrenner, NABU Naturgucker
With the European Union’s updated Bioeconomy Strategy now in place, a crucial question comes to the forefront: how can national bioeconomy ambitions be translated into inclusive, actionable plans on the ground? At the final conference of the CEE2ACT project in Budapest, Hungary the CSCP project team explored this challenge by sharing insights from the journeys of ten Central and Eastern European countries. The discussion highlighted what it truly takes to build stakeholder-driven bioeconomy initiatives, rooted in national contexts, shaped by collaboration, and capable of delivering tangible impact.
At the conference “The Future of the Bioeconomy in Central and Eastern Europe”, policymakers, industry representatives, researchers, and civil society organisations came together to discuss how European priorities can be turned into concrete action across the region.
Ten national bioeconomy roadmaps developed through the CEE2ACT project within the framework of EU priorities were presented, with a focus on a practical question: what actually works when building inclusive, stakeholder-driven bioeconomy initiatives at national level?
To answer this, the CSCP developed ten National Bioeconomy Hub Sheets and a Cross-Country Analysis Sheet, capturing concrete lessons from across Central and Eastern Europe. Based on experiences from Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, and Slovenia. These concise insights highlight effective approaches to engaging stakeholders, coordinating diverse actors, and turning strategy into action.
The sheets were presented alongside national hub posters during a guided poster walk, where hub coordinators shared their roadmaps and engaged directly with participants. Together, the posters and sheets linked concrete national actions to broader lessons on stakeholder engagement, governance, and collaboration—helping participants move from individual examples to transferable insights.
The sheets also capture key challenges—such as maintaining long-term engagement and aligning diverse stakeholder interests. These insights are synthesised in the Cross-Country Analysis, which identifies shared patterns across all ten countries, including success factors, recurring bottlenecks, and transferable lessons to support bioeconomy implementation in line with the EU’s renewed focus on circularity, inclusiveness, and regional ownership.
These messages were reinforced through discussions with national ministries, the European Commission, the BIOEAST Initiative, and related EU-funded projects BIOECO-UP, BOOST4BIOEAST, and BIO-INSPIRE.
With the publication of the ten National Bioeconomy Hub Sheets and the Cross-Country Analysis, the CSCP invites policymakers, practitioners, and researchers to explore practical lessons from Central and Eastern Europe and draw inspiration for advancing the EU’s circular bioeconomy transition through participatory approaches.
Download the 10 national Bioeconomy Sheets—Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, and Slovenia—and check out the cross-country analysis for a comparative perspective.
For a comprehensive read on the impact evaluation of the CEE2ACT project, please read the impact report.
The CEE2ACT project is funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe research programme and will run for three years (2022-2025), led by a consortium of 17 European partners.
For further questions, please contact Kartika Anggraeni.
Circular economy practices are being adopted across many value chains. Three recent reports by the European Environment Agency Topic Centre on Circuar Economy (ETC-CE) examine the textiles and plastics sectors (two of the most polluting industries) and explore how the transition to a circular economy can be achieved in a socially fair way.
Achieving global circular production and consumption will require profound changes across value chains in all industries. These three reports explore what this transformation entails, focusing on sectors where circularity is urgently needed and examining how fairness can guide the shift.
The report “Textiles and the environment – the role of digital technologies in Europe’s circular economy” updates key datasets and insights, including the latest developments in European textile production, consumption patterns, trade flows, exports of used textiles, and related environmental impact estimates. Looking into the future, the authors map current and emerging digital solutions and examine how they could transform the design, production, and servicing of clothing and other textile products.
The report “Reusable takeaway packaging for food and drinks – scalability of systems towards circularity in Europe” analyses a sector where circular practices are already being tested. Focusing on plastics, the report explores how far reusable food and beverage container systems have come, and identifies the main obstacles and possibilities for expanding them. To do so, the ETC-CE researchers located and interviewed businesses and projects in eight European countries whose core activities center on different parts of the reusable packaging value chain.
In the report “A Just Transition to Circular Economy”, the authors bring forward a justice-oriented circular economy framework, emphasizing the need to consider participation, fairness, and the distribution of benefits and burdens in a circular economy. The report also examines the justice aspects of transitioning to a circular economy across the battery, textile, and plastics value chains.
Got to our library to download all three reports!
For further questions, please contact Livia El-Khawad.
Transformation needs images that we can not only understand, but also feel deeply. This was exactly the starting point of the transform.NRW symposium held in November 2025 in Bonn, Germany.
‘Where are we now? Where do we want to go? What are we prepared to dare?’ – these questions opened the symposium at the Bundeskunsthalle Bonn, kicking off two days of exchange, inspiration and bold visions for the future.
Practitioners from design, research, politics, business and civil society came together to rethink social-ecological transformation through art, culture and design.
For the co-do lab, this was a special space: filled with people who translate complexity into images, stories and emotions, and who can therefore offer exactly what transformation needs most.
Head, heart and hands
Eva Rudolf, Senior Designer and Stephan Schaller, Senior Expert joined the panel “Networks, Accomplices and Other Allies” to introduce the co-do lab and talk about why transformation only succeeds when head, heart and hands work together.
The co-do lab work is rooted in nature-based experiences, because connection and shared experiences create the foundation that enables people to move from intention to action. That’s why the events was a great opportunity to meet likeminded people, who turn data and facts into meaningful narratives and use creativity to offer orientation and courage.
Transformation needs images that move us
Prof. Manfred Fischedick from the Wuppertal Institute emphasised in his remarks that we are facing an action gap—one that requires collective strength and the courage to take a significant leap forward. It was a reminder of what this moment calls for: transforming complexity into momentum, uncertainty into curiosity, and intentions into shared action.
How art can translate issues such as, for example, the overproduction of the textile industry into emotional experiences became clear at the end of the event, through the powerful dance performance “Tree Tree” by Japanese dancer and choreographer Kenji Shinohe, who got entangled in a large amount of textiles he was moving through and interacting with.
What the co-do lab can contribute
The co-do lab aims to create experiences that touch people and spark inspiration and momentum for the next steps of their transformation journey. At Gut Einern in Wuppertal, the co-do lab experts enable teams to shape their future actively – through deep, shared experiences with others and nature.
Whether in the co-creation kitchen, around the campfire, in the co-do mobile or in the permaculture garden: at Gut Einern, teams find spaces to think differently, decide more clearly, and move from intention to action. Conversations turn into ideas. Ideas turn into impact – curious, bold, effective.
Ready for co-creation?
Do you want to experience transformation instead of merely discussing it? Are you looking for formats that connect people and spark real innovation? Do you want to prototype, explore and prepare your organisation for a future that lasts?
Then let’s explore what you’re ready to dare and how we can work together.
The co-do lab team is excited to co-create formats tailored to your team, your organisation or your city. From team days to strategy and storytelling workshops to multi-stakeholder sessions with partners or clients.
For further questions, please contact Eva Rudolf.
Read more at the co-do lab website or reach out to the team.
How can Central and Eastern Europe lead the way toward a circular bioeconomy and a more sustainable future? At the opening day of the Circular Week 2025 in Warsaw, Poland, our CEE2ACT project team showcased how collaboration, local empowerment, and innovation can turn the circular bioeconomy from vision to action.
The Circular Week 2025, which is hosted by the Institute of Innovation and Responsible Development— INNOWO, brought together high-level representatives from the European Commission, national governments, and international organisations including EIT Food, the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, and Circle Economy.
This first day, themed “Circular Bioeconomy as Key for Biodiversity and Resilience”, set the agenda for the week. Our CEE2ACT project, which supports ten Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries in building national bioeconomy strategies through stakeholder engagement and evidence-based processes, was presented as an example of cross-country and multi-level actor collaboration.
In the session “The CEE2ACT Project and its Bottom-Up Approach to Promote the Bioeconomy Development in the CEE Countries,” CSCP Project Manager Kartika Anggraeni and the coordinator of the CEE2ACT Polish National Bioeconomy Hub, Piotr Jurga (IUNG-PIB) showcased how the project mobilises ministries, research institutions, businesses and communities to co-create bioeconomy roadmaps at national and regional levels.
The Polish National Bioeconomy Hub, represented by Piotr Jurga, shared insights into the ongoing work on a Circular Bioeconomy Roadmap, which will underpin Poland’s future National Bioeconomy Strategy.
A key milestone achieved by the Polish Hub during the day was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) among several organisations — marking a formal step in strengthening cross-sector cooperation and driving toward a circular, bio-based economy.
As the panels of the day explored topics such as bioremediation, national strategy formation, materials transition and biodiversity reporting, CEE2ACT stood out as an operational example of bottom-up implementation. By strengthening national capacities and promoting peer-learning across CEE countries, the project shows how regional collaboration can accelerate meaningful change.
You can read more about the work of CEE2ACT in supporting 10 Central and Easter European countries to shape their national bioeconomy strategies here.
Within the framework of the Circular Week 2025, the student competition “The Circular Shift: Business Reinvented” held its grand final at Kozminski University, Warsaw, on November 4, where six student teams from across Poland presented circular business solutions to sustainability challenges. CSCP’s Kartika Anggraeni was part of the jury alongside over ten European organisations, supporting initiatives that engage the next generation in shaping a circular bioeconomy.
In 2026, the CSCP will join Circular Week as a co-organiser, bringing the initiative to Germany and highlighting the role of cities in driving the circular transition with a combination of online and in-person events. Would you like to engage with us and be actively involved in Circular Week 2026? Reach out to Mike Tabel!