Zero Waste in the Wardrobe: Our CARE Project at the Forum Citizen Science 2024 @care_circularhh#CareCircularHouseholds How can a zero-waste wardrobe work in real life? As part of our CARE project, we explored this question at the Forum Citizen Science 2024, which took place in October 2024 in Hamburg, Germany. At a co-creation workshop, promising solutions for households were developed and discussed with a group of motivated participants, providing insights that could shape the future of sustainable clothing practices. Citizen Science on the Rise The theme of this year’s Forum Citizen Science was “Mit:Wirkung” (in German), meaning both ‘co-creation’ and ‘having an impact’. Elements of citizen science have been an integral part of the CARE project from the beginning, starting with a series of co-creation workshops over the summer of 2024 and continuing into the planned pilot phase with 100 European households, starting in mid 2025. The Forum Citizen Science offered a unique opportunity to engage directly with consumers on sustainable clothing. Listening is Key: What Consumers Need The CSCP and the CARE project partner, VERBRAUCHER INITIATIVE hosted the workshop “Zero waste in the wardrobe”, where participants discussed practical ideas for a more sustainable approach to clothing. The workshop, designed as a multi-step process, included brainstorming and a group exercise based on the Walt Disney method. The participants first generated over 20 creative ideas on how to make clothing more circular. Then, they voted on what they thought was the most promising idea, which turned out to be an App that helps track clothes and accessories in your wardrobe and suggests new outfit combinations. Often times, people tend to overbuy clothes precisely because they don’t have a good overview of what they already have or how to combine individual items to create outfits. A tool like this could help tackle this challenge and even connect communities through peer-to-peer clothing swaps and rentals. At the end of the workshop, the participants were divided into three groups: dreamers, realists, and critics, with each group contributing to the development of the most voted idea by looking at it from different perspectives. A Matter of Perspective “While the dreamers explored unlimited possibilities, the realists focused on feasibility”, said Miriam Bätzing, Head of Sustainability at VERBRAUCHER INITIATIVE. “The critics, on the other hand, examined the risks and potential uncertainties.” This method ensured a comprehensive approach and allowed participants to think deeply and creatively about the challenges of sustainable clothing. “We were genuinely surprised by the innovative solutions that the participants came up with in just 90 minutes,” added Bätzing. “Once again, we see that our citizen science approach within CARE is really paying off.” As a think-and-do tank, the CSCP played a central role in facilitating the workshop and ensuring that the outcomes were practical and actionable. CSCP’s Eva Rudolf shared her enthusiasm: “The workshop not only highlighted the power of collaboration, but also how citizen input can lead to tangible solutions that are more likely to be embraced and adopted. When solutions are co-created with those who will ultimately benefit from them, they are not only more relevant but also have a greater chance of making a real impact. It’s about connecting people with purpose and guiding them to co-create solutions for their sustainable future.” The results of this session will feed into the strategic planning of CARE‘s future pilots, providing direct consumer insight to shape the direction of the project. Join CARE today to create a sustainable tomorrow! Are you passionate about making your household more sustainable? Whether you’re interested in reducing waste in your wardrobe or engaging in other circular lifestyle practices, we invite you to join CARE’s journey. Households in Tampere (Finland), Asker (Norway), Gothenburg (Sweden), Berlin (Germany), and Lääne-Harju (Estonia), can apply to take part in our upcoming pilots. We encourage other relevant stakeholders, from policymakers to industry experts, to engage with us. Follow CARE on Linkedin or Instagram, or sign up for our newsletter at circularhouseholds.eu to stay updated. For further questions, please contact Katrin Hüttepohl.