As part of the CURIOST project, two-day workshops entitled “Circular is Necessary: How to Design Products that Generate Less Waste and Greater Profit” took place in Rijeka (September 23, 2025) and Čakovec (September 25, 2025). The events gathered more than 20 experts and company representatives from the mechanical, plastics, construction, and packaging sectors to explore how circularity can drive both sustainability and competitiveness.
The workshops were facilitated by STEP RI (Boris Golob and Vinka Mirtov) and Metalska Jezgra Čakovec (Kristina Moskalova and Mirjana Jurović), who guided participants through practical sessions built around real business cases. With the support of experienced mentors, companies evaluated their current level of circular economy implementation and co-created proposals for improvement using advanced and creative methodologies.
Through inspiring presentations and teamwork, participants worked on circular business models, applied Design Thinking principles, and practiced exercises such as the “nightmare competitor” scenario to rethink products and strategies. The sessions focused on developing solutions that extend product lifecycles, reduce resource use, and increase recycling potential—ultimately shaping more efficient, innovative, and market-competitive business models.
The collaborative atmosphere, open exchange of experiences, and hands-on tools offered by the facilitators provided valuable insights for participants’ ongoing business development. By the end of the workshops, companies had prototyped innovative ideas and received the opportunity for individual consultations to further refine their strategies.