In circular economy (Ce), the value of products and materials is maintained for as long as possible. What has previously been considered waste is now a resource that can be reused and reintroduced to the production cycle. Therefore, waste management of both technical and bio-based waste streams plays a central role in the transition towards Ce. In bioeconomy, the materials are to a certain extent circular by nature. however, biomaterials may also be used in a rather linear way. according to the european Commission, the transition towards Ce needs to be supported on local, regional and national levels. Thus, to enhance sustainability and get the full potential out of bioeconomy, the Ce principles should be applied to reach bio-based Ce. This paper presents the results of a qualitative assessment that was carried out in Finland, Spain, Slovakia, greece, romania and France. Selected national and regional strategies were identified, compared and analyzed from the perspective of Ce and bio-based Ce. at the time of the study, the added value of Ce was recognized in most of the national and regional level strategies studied, through objectives concerning e.g. waste management or bioenergy. Bio-based Ce was hardly ever included as a term but circularity aspects were referred to for example through biowaste management. Waste management appears to be the main driver in the transition towards Ce. This is evident also in the case presented from Slovakia. yet, in order for Ce to become an integral part of national and regional policies, a more comprehensive understanding of the Ce mechanisms should be achieved. Supported actions on both small and large-scale are needed. The research is partly an outcome of the ongoing Interreg europe project BIOregIO, where the bio-based circular economy is boosted through a transfer of expertise about best practices, aiming at changing regional policies to support bio-based Ce.
The transition towards a sustainable circular economy (CE) model is seen as a solution to keep the consumption of the earth’s resources within planetary boundaries. In the regional context, the CE is promoted through various policy actions, one being the smart specialisation concept. This paper provides a novel approach to examining the spatial adaption of a CE through a conceptual framework of research and innovation strategies for smart specialisation (S3) in Europe. This interdisciplinary research presents a multi-country comparison of S3 implementation in Europe in 12 regions that have defined the CE as a priority area. The data consist of interviews with representatives of organisations responsible for the regional S3 process. The findings indicate that a political demand exists for proceeding further with the construction of transformative activities involving the CE, but the models and stages of implementation vary. In addition, most regions still struggle with building specific monitoring and evaluation measures and mechanisms for the CE. Despite these challenges, promoting the CE as a strategic priority through the S3 process has, at least in some regions, helped define the CE targets and actions by focusing on existing regional assets and future potential.
Information design has become a tool to enhance the communication of process-and systems-oriented information. Environmental awareness can be promoted through information design (Bartusch & Porathe, 2011). With regard to renewable energy, these aspects of information design need to coincide. Renewable energy sources play a key role in the EU's circular economy package and energy policy targets (COM, 2015). Also rural actors should be encouraged to use renewable energy (Chel & Kaushik, 2011). They should have access to simple and comparable information. Well-executed information design when planning, shaping and visualizing data could provide solutions for this dilemma (Coates & Allison, 2014). This paper deals with the opportunities of using information design as a tool to process and produce more understandable information about rural renewable energy possibilities to better meet the information needs of rural actors. In this study, data is produced in two forms of visualization: posters and animations.
The transport sector represents about 30 per cent of all carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in developed countries. Developing sustainable transport and mobility play a central role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Sustainable mobility means a mind shift where transport in private cars is replaced by different modes of more sustainable mobility, such as, walking, biking, and public transport. The transformation toward more sustainable mobility plays a key role in reaching CO2 emission reduction goals. However, in addition to the environmental perspective, also social and economic aspects are interconnected in the change. In this sustainability shift, employers can encourage the employees through offering and supporting new alternatives for mobility. This article aims to study how different sustainable mobility initiatives provided by an employer are adopted by employees. This case study presents a set of pilots implemented at a workplace in Lahti, Finland in May-October 2022. The mobility forms offered for commuting were fringe benefits from employment, that is, employer-subsidized commuter tickets and employer-provided bicycle benefits. Travel during the workday was supported through introducing the use of shared electric city bikes and scooters. The research data consisted of short surveys before (n = 70) and at the end of the pilots (n = 66), and thematic interviews (n = 8) during the implementation period. The pilots were implemented in collaboration with the employer and two local universities. Before the pilots, the main part of the employee participants was using private cars for commuting and travel during the workday. Results show that the pilots were successful in introducing more sustainable ways of mobility. However, the employer's role in preparing, supporting, and planning the continuation of support for sustainable commuting and mobility is essential.
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