| Posted June 25, 2026

What Works, What Doesn’t: CCRI Workshop Series Launched to Share Circular Economy Know-How

Cities and regions across Europe face similar challenges when implementing the circular transition. Over the past year, practitioners shared real-life experiences—what worked, what didn’t, and where they saw real potential—through peer exchange in the Circular Cities and Regions Initiative (CCRI) Communities of Practice. The just launched CCRI hands-on online workshops build directly on that practitioner exchange. Each workshop focuses on a key implementation challenge identified in the CCRI communities of practice and translates those insights into practical tools, methods and examples participants can apply in their own context. Upcoming sessions include cutting consumption-based emissions through circular economy or the role of […]

| Posted June 24, 2026

How North Rhine-Westphalia Aims to Break the Record for Most Repaired Items in One Month

What if thousands of people across an entire region came together to repair instead of replace? What if a broken toaster, a torn jacket, or a damaged bicycle became part of a collective movement showing that repair is alive and well? In October 2026, the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) will aim to break the record for the most repaired items in a month! What will happen? Throughout October 2026, citizens, repair initiatives, Fab Labs, craftspeople, businesses, manufacturers, retailers, and community organisations across NRW will join forces in an ambitious attempt to achieve the highest number of repaired items ever documented […]

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FOODWISE Kicks-Off: Making Circular Food Choices Easier Across Europe

What if the most circular choice in a supermarket was also the easiest, most attractive, and most rewarding one? Across Europe, many citizens care about sustainability, food waste, and climate impact. Yet in everyday life, good intentions often meet busy routines, confusing information, limited options, or retail environments that still make linear consumption the default. “We see a clear opportunity here and that’s the starting point for our FOODWISE project, which we launched in June 2026. We want to work together with partners and relevant actors to redesign food systems so that circular choices become intuitive, accessible, and desirable.”, shares Nora […]

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Why Mapping Weak and Blind Spots Can Become a Source of Trust and Innovation

Alexander Mannweiler, Head of Sustainable Business and Entrepreneurship at the CSCP, has been engaging with the topic of resilience with cities, businesses, and communities. In this piece he explains why we need to move from exposure to agency and how that can be done. “Thinking about weak or blind spots is not the most positive exercise. At least not at first glance. However, when resilience is not only seen as crisis response, mapping vulnerabilities is an added value. It is a way for organisations to understand their dependencies, reveal their weaknesses, strengthen relationships, and innovate.” Preparedness means asking the right questions […]

| Posted June 23, 2026

NEXRUR Workshop Shows What’s Holding Rural Businesses in Agriculture Back & What Could Drive Them Forward

From high land prices in the Netherlands to complex EU seed regulations in Spain, community-led business models in agriculture and related bio-based production systems across Europe are facing growing external pressures. Despite the challenges, with the right support, local communities can play a central role in building more resilient, sustainable, and locally rooted food systems. The NEXRUR project brings together partners from across Europe to better understand, support, and strengthen community-led agricultural business models. Through collaboration, research, and exchange between local actors, the project works to identify and address barriers as well as unlock opportunities that allow such businesses to thrive. […]

| Posted June 20, 2026

Shaping Aachen’s Circular Future with Communities at the Centre

What does a circular city look like in practice? In Aachen, Germany, citizens, community initiatives, but also businesses and public administration actors came together to explore this question. Through a series of community workshops, participants developed concrete ideas for making circular economy visible, practical, and locally relevant. Rather than starting with predefined solutions, the three workshops held as part of the Circular City Aachen project created space for dialogue, collaboration and the development of locally grounded ideas. Repair & Reuse The first workshop focused on repair and reuse. Participants discussed how existing reuse initiatives could become more visible and accessible, and […]

| Posted June 16, 2026

The LebensLänger Project Kicks-Off: Working Together for Products that Last

Whether it’s a drill, a washing machine, a sofa, or a pair of jeans—many products could be used longer, repaired, shared, or passed on. Yet, too often this does not happen­ because the right services, information, business models, and local support structures are missing. In May 2026, we launched the LebensLänger project together with WWF Germany and other partners to address these barriers and make circular production and consumption easier for three product groups: electrical appliances, furniture, and textiles. To achieve this, we’re bringing together consumers, businesses, municipalities, influencers, academia, policymakers, and civil society. The project will develop educational programmes, empower […]

| Posted June 15, 2026

The CSCP Brings the SETDEPLOY Toolbox to Life at EUBCE 2026

What does it take to build a digital resource that truly serves its users? For the SETDEPLOY project, the answer is simple: ask them. SETDEPLOY is a three-year Horizon Europe project supporting the coordination and implementation of the Strategic Energy Technology (SET) Plan for bioenergy and renewable fuels for sustainable transport. Central to the project is the SETDEPLOY Toolbox, an online platform that brings together essential information on policies, strategies, funding opportunities, relevant ongoing projects, and key stakeholders, helping national authorities, industry, research organisations, and project developers navigate a complex and evolving landscape. Yet, a resource is only as good as […]

| Posted June 10, 2026

Why Consumer Perspectives Are Key to the Future of Food

Emerging food technologies such as cultured meat and seafood are often discussed from technological or regulatory perspectives. But what happens when consumers are actively involved in shaping these innovations? Within the FEASTS project, we are exploring how participatory approaches can support future food innovation across Europe. How can consumers engage with food products that do not yet exist? This question accompanied the CSCP throughout a series of participatory workshops conducted as part of the Horizon Europe project FEASTS. Together with partners from Denmark and France, the CSCP implemented consumer engagement formats focused on cultured meat and seafood, two emerging food technologies […]

| Posted June 8, 2026

Join Our CCRI Webinar: Public Engagement for Circular Behavioural Change on 25 June 2026!

How can cities and regions move beyond raising awareness and support lasting changes in everyday circular practices? On 25 June 2026, the CCRI Knowledge Hub will host the online webinar “Public Engagement for Circular Behavioural Change: From Awareness to Adoption” in collaboration with our CARE project and the global alliance of local and regional authorities and civil society, ALDA. The webinar will explore how public engagement, participatory approaches and behavioural insights can help cities and regions strengthen the implementation of circular economy initiatives. What to expect? The session will begin with an introduction to the CARE framework, which explores how behavioural […]

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