During the project presentation, Jure Raztočnik, Director of Development Agency Kozjansko, emphasized that RUREVIVE supports local communities in developing new knowledge, green entrepreneurial ideas, and better use of local resources. “We are very pleased to once again be cooperating with the Faculty of Arts of the University of Ljubljana and the Zagorje Development Agency, and that we can further strengthen this cooperation together with partners from Poland,” said Raztočnik.
An important part of the project is the research into the needs of the local environment in the field of waste reduction and the introduction of sustainable practices. Entrepreneurs, young people, and households were included in the research. The University of Ljubljana, Department of Geography at the Faculty of Arts, which has been cooperating with Development Agency Kozjansko for many years, is carrying out field research within the project on the actual needs related to the “less waste” approach.
Based on the findings, the partners will prepare the content of thematic workshops tailored to the needs of rural areas. “In the area of the Local Action Group From Pohorje to Bohor, it became clear that respondents are mainly interested in practical training that will provide them with useful knowledge and skills. They see these shorter and more intensive forms of education as a good solution, since they often lack the time for longer programmes. Entrepreneurs, meanwhile, primarily expect appropriate financial and tax incentives for a gradual transition to operating with less waste,” explained Prof. Dr. Irma Potočnik Slavič from the Department of Geography at the Faculty of Arts, University of Ljubljana.
Before the press conference, a practical workshop titled “Zero Waste in Practice” was also held and led by Dr. Marinka Vovk, Director of the Reuse Centre. Participants learned about the possibilities of reusing materials, repairing products, and reducing food waste. “The Zero Waste concept is not merely about waste management, but above all about a different view of lifestyle and consumption. What matters is reducing waste generation, encouraging repairs, reuse and exchange, and preserving the knowledge and skills that once formed part of everyday life,” emphasized Dr. Marinka Vovk.
At the end of the press conference, the project partners invited institutions, companies, and individuals to follow the RUREVIVE project and to actively engage in the process of learning about and introducing the “less waste” approach. At the same time, they wish to encourage the wider community to sign a declaration on responsible action and the joint implementation of sustainable practices.
The RUREVIVE project is focused on revitalising three rural areas in Slovenia, Croatia, and Poland through the Zero Waste approach and by strengthening community-based action. These areas include the LAG From Pohorje to Bohor in Slovenia, Krapina-Zagorje County in Croatia, and the Barycz Valley in Poland.