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Description
The main objective of the CIRCI project is to improve the eco-efficiency of the Slovenian and Norwegian (industrial) ecosystem and to increase the awareness about circular economy through innovation. The project aims to optimize the material and energy flow in the production process using sidestream materials for re-use purposes. The project’s primary goal is to map these sidestream or secondary materials and establish a database that will be a source of information for interested parties. Sidestream materials can be an important material source for different production companies or industries. CIRCI will also consider the administrative implementation of waste legislation in Slovenia as there are some uncertainties about when the status of waste ends or how materials can circulate as sidestream materials, which is the basis of industrial symbiosis. One of the main objectives of the project is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through innovative approaches and the use of ICT to develop new circular business models and to promote industrial symbiosis. CIRCI will directly address the challenges of the transition to circular economy through practical application and raising awareness. The consortium of the CIRCI partnership with Slovenian and Norwegian partners will also ensure knowledge transfer and increase bilateral cooperation. The key activity for achieving the goals of the project will be the establishment of a database of sidestream materials (and energy flows) modelled on the Norwegian database. Based on the results obtained in three selected Slovenian industries (metal processing industry, processing of recyclable plastic resources, electrical industry) we will promote cooperation between companies (either from the same industry or other), research institutions or interested organizations through support instruments (vouchers, business support and educational activities).
Summary of project results
Slovenia has adopted several strategic documents and implemented numerous projects on the topic of circular economy. There are also several initiatives and programmes at the EU level that aim to accelerate the transition to a green, digitalized and competitive Europe. However, the need of companies (due to economic, political and global pressures) for concrete incentives is increasingly visible. The complexity of supply chains and the disruption of material flows due to the global shortage of raw materials and the consequences of the pandemic were a situation that needed to be addressed with concrete proposals and measures to achieve the desired green goals. The main objective of the CIRCI project is to improve the eco-efficiency of the Slovenian and Norwegian (industrial) ecosystem and to increase the awareness about circular economy through innovation. The project aims to optimize the material flow in the production process using sidestream materials for re-use purposes. The project’s primary goal is to map these sidestream or secondary materials and establish a database that will be a source of information for interested parties. Sidestream materials can be an important material source for different production companies or industries.
CIRCI also considered the administrative implementation of waste legislation in Slovenia as there are some uncertainties about end-of-waste status or how materials can circulate as sidestream materials, which is the basis of industrial symbiosis. One of the main objectives of the project was to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through innovative approaches and develop new circular business models and to promote industrial symbiosis. CIRCI directly addressed the challenges of the transition to circular economy through practical application and raising awareness in the industry sector.
Project CIRCI completed its goals via 4 outputs. The key activity for achieving the goals of the project was the establishment of a database of sidestream materials modelled on the Norwegian database. Based on the results obtained in three selected Slovenian industries (metal processing industry, processing of recyclable plastic resources, electrical industry) and further through material mapping, the partners promoted cooperation between companies (either from the same industry or other), research institutions or interested organizations through support instruments. The project increased cooperation and trust between identified target groups in order to achieve industrial symbiosis. The main achievement of the project was also the implementation of innovative approaches to sidestream utilization by companies which carried out the demonstration / pilot projects. We also raised the awareness for the benefits of circular economy in target groups, which were primarily Slovenian and Norwegian companies and research and educational institutions, interested groups (NGOs), business support organizations, but also the general public. The partnership encouraged the transfer of best practices between Norway and Slovenia, joint research and development of new solutions in the field of the circular economy, and the transfer of knowledge and solutions to the wider European area.
The project was intended for greater social benefit in Slovenia and Norway. Project created a database, which is a very practical solution for the transition to a circular economy through utilization of sidestream materials from production processes in the manufacturing industry. We created the possibility for multiplied effects, especially by raising awareness among target groups, with the aim of making the database as sustainable as possible. The partnership identified multiple target groups which we reached during the implementation stages.
The most important target group were Slovenian and Norwegian SMEs and companies involved in their value chains. A large number of business involvement activities, such as technology & innovation workshops, database workshops, study trips, educational webinars and presenting the project in multilateral events, was carried out . This facilitated a large participation of SMEs, as we reached over 330% of intended targets. Additionally, the activities reached 250 % of intended enterprises (or large companies). Through these companies’ project raised awareness about reducing the volume of material flows of new materials, using secondary resources in production and promoting industrial symbiosis.
The CIRCI voucher scheme encouraged and supported the companies to find synergies and collaborate for pilot projects, of which 6 were completely implemented in partnerships. An important target group for the successful implementation of these pilots were also higher education and research institutions and business support organizations, which facilitated the connections for the exchange of sidestream flows or supported the pilot projects with analyses of materials and the possibilities of their wider usage. Conclusively, these relationships formed an ecosystem of industrial symbiosis, which CIRCI project worked for.
Through communication activities and promotional publications, such as advertisements, informational videos and a printed Handbook for Creating a Sidestream Database, we encourage other countries in Europe to create similar mapping/databases, which will allow for greater collaboration and potentially international joint projects/developments in this area. Through these activities which included CIRCI social media channels and website posts, as well as our presence at larger events, we reached a portion of the general public and other interest groups (such as NGOs) and increased their understanding on the concept of circular economy and enabled open communication on the topic for new ideas and solutions.
Lastly, CIRCI project addressed the national (and regional, in case of Norway) public authorities in SMEs, industry, materials management, research and technological development, environment, such as national agencies and relevant ministries. A steady and consistent dialogue is necessary to form a well-functioning project and ensure its sustainability after the time of project implementation. The Slovenian national authorities were informed of the impacts of the CIRCI project and were active in its events and promotions. The partnership believes the “good practice” example of CIRCI project can thus be celebrated and utilized further for reaching the overarching objectives of a low-carbon circular economy, sustainable management of natural resources, and a more competitive and socially responsible business and research sector.
Summary of bilateral results
The consortium of the CIRCI partnership with Slovenian and Norwegian partners ensured knowledge transfer and increased bilateral cooperation. The main output of the project – the sidestream database – was the epitome of the knowledge transfer method, as the Slovenian database was modelled after the Norwegian database. Without the collaboration and partnership of the Norwegian partner EYDE Cluster such a project would be much less efficient. Together with the donor project partner we were able to utilize the previously learned lessons and follow the best recommendations for the approach to the project activities. With input of the Norwegian partner the CIRCI project could expand the reach of both databases through more focused promotional activities and a larger reach to target groups in both Slovenia and Norway. Additionally, it gave companies in both countries a chance to work together in the pilot projects of sidestream re-utilization which increased the spread of environmental benefits and bilateral cooperation.Bilaterally, the partners reaped the positive effects of promoting the Slovenian and Norwegian databases in tandem, as a good practice for introducing the circular economy to the manufacturing industry. Additionally, promoting the voucher scheme in Norway and Slovenia led to collaboration between Norwegian and Slovenian companies, who acted as a consortium in pilot projects, and view this partnership as a possibility in the future.The partnership led to a wider effect in creating a Handbook for Creating an Industrial Sidestream Database, which compiled the processes and recommendations for countries or organizations to establish a similar sidestream database to map and utilize the potential of sidestreams