As part of our ongoing assessment of eight NiCE Pilots, we are excited to share that the international survey on consumption behaviours and circular economy awareness has been successfully completed in May 2025.
Participants from Austria, Czechia, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia, shared their thoughts and experiences on how new services promoting circular lifestyles – such as repair services, second-hand shops, or resource hubs – are influencing their daily habits, awareness, and satisfaction levels. The results will help us better understand how to shape public policies and city services that support sustainable consumption.
One of the highlights of the survey was a contest question: “Which of your household products could be used for a new purpose instead of being thrown away?”. The responses we received were not only practical, but impressively creative and inspiring. Here are just a few standout ideas:
- Old cupboards and drawers transformed into pet cages or nesting boxes for hens.
- A washing machine drum repurposed into a chestnut roasting pan.
- A flowerpot with holes turned into a stylish lampshade or candle holder.
- Christmas presents wrapped in scarves or handmade bags sewn from old bed sheets.
- A vintage glass lampshade reborn as a garden bird bath – “Now they drink from a crystal glass,” wrote one participant.
- A hammock made from old jeans—stitched together and strung between trees with a sturdy rope.
- A broken mop bucket converted into a cat house, complete with cushion, T-shirt lining, and a cut-out entrance.
These ideas showcase not just environmental awareness, but also the joy and ingenuity of giving products a second life – a central value of the circular economy.
The insights gathered will feed into our pilot evaluations and guide recommendations for improving local and regional strategies that support the transition toward more circular cities. We sincerely thank everyone who participated in the survey and shared their inventive solutions.