Project overview
Introducing and upscaling circular economy models in regional value chains in the food, catering and packaging sectors
Nearly ten percent of all food produced for consumers goes to waste in Europe. Circular economy could help prevent much of that waste but businesses and regional planners often do not know how to introduce them. The project CIREVALC helped them to make regional value chains in the food, catering and packaging sectors more circular through a community approach. The partners jointly designed and tested a new accelerator tool that will facilitate the green transition of businesses and local communities.
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2,31m €
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Project Budget
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80%
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of the Budget is funded by ERDF
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9
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Countries
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10
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Regions
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10
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Partners
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1
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Pilots
Duration
Start date
End date
Project progress
Project partnership
Project partners
Lead partner
South Transdanubian Regional Innovation Agency
Project partner
Department of International Relations
Total partner budget
206,424 €
Total partner budget
208,308 €
Department of National and International Projects and Programs
Total partner budget
197,243 €
Promotion and Territorial Development Projects Unit
Address
Piazza Insurrezione XXVIII aprile ‘45 1/A 35137 Padova
Country
Italy (IT) Web
www.pd.camcom.it
Total partner budget
287,761 €
Total partner budget
186,588 €
Center for Education, European and Institutional Cooperation
Total partner budget
181,018 €
Dept. Sustainable Technologies
Total partner budget
281,684 €
Cluster & Cooperation (Food Cluster)
Total partner budget
256,321 €
Total partner budget
212,436 €
Roadmap
1
Context
Low awareness and engagement, non-receptive communities towards circular solutions in the food, packaging and catering sector
2
Specific problem
Lack of skills, knowledge and tools and low uptake of solutions
3
Idea
A new, innovative tool for strengthening circular skills of enterprises and other organisations
4
Solution
Green accelerator for enterprises and other interested organisations in our partner regions
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How it works
First, we collect development needs of companies/organisations through interviews and survey. Then local and transnational pool of experts fitting to the development needs are involved. Finally, the enrolled companies and organisations receive tailored assistance from the expert pool in the frame of green accelerators
6
Proof/credibility
Increased use of circular solutions, business models at the accelerated enterprises
7
Visions
More sustainable enterprises and local communities through improved circular skills.
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Call to action
Let's Together Unlock The Power of the Circular Economy!
News
Events
Pilot actions
Outputs
CIREVALC Circular Community Accelerator
The CIREVALC Circular Community Accelerator is a jointly developed support model that helps SMEs, public organisations and local communities introduce and scale up circular economy solutions in the food, catering and packaging sectors.
Building on the experience gained through pilot implementation in nine Central European regions, the accelerator combines diagnostic assessment, tailored advisory services, capacity building, expert support and networking into one integrated framework. It guides organisations from identifying circular opportunities to planning and initiating practical measures adapted to their specific needs.
Designed as a flexible and transferable solution, the accelerator strengthens regional cooperation, facilitates knowledge exchange and supports the long-term uptake of circular economy practices across Central Europe.
Type of output: Solutions
CIREVALC Joint Action Plan
The CIREVALC Joint Action Plan provides a coordinated framework for promoting and supporting the uptake of circular economy models in the food, catering and packaging sectors across Central Europe. It brings together feasible joint actions that respond to shared challenges and opportunities identified across participating regions.
Its implementation started during the final phase of the project through transnational activities supporting knowledge exchange, stakeholder engagement, networking and the promotion of circular economy practices. The plan supports the continued transfer and uptake of CIREVALC results beyond the project lifetime.
Type of output: Strategies and action plans
CIREVALC Strategy
The CIREVALC Strategy provides a shared strategic framework for accelerating the transition towards circular economy models in the food, catering and packaging sectors across Central Europe.
Developed jointly by the CIREVALC partnership, the Strategy builds on regional analyses, stakeholder engagement and the experience gained through pilot implementation in nine regions. It identifies the main barriers to circular transition and defines five strategic directions to strengthen circular business models, improve skills and knowledge, enhance financial and regulatory support, foster innovation and infrastructure development, and promote cross-sectoral and transnational cooperation.
The Strategy establishes a common vision for long-term collaboration and serves as the foundation for the CIREVALC Central European Action Plan, supporting the continued uptake and transfer of project results beyond the project lifetime.
Type of output: Strategies and action plans
CIREVALC Central European Action Plan
The CIREVALC Central European Action Plan translates the strategic directions of the CIREVALC Strategy into concrete joint actions supporting the continued uptake of circular economy models in the food, catering and packaging sectors across Central Europe.
It defines five coordinated actions focused on expert support, transnational learning, knowledge sharing, replication of the CIREVALC Accelerator and policy dialogue. Building on the tools, experience and networks developed during the project, the Action Plan provides a practical framework for continued cooperation, transfer and scaling of CIREVALC results beyond the project lifetime.
Type of output: Strategies and action plans
Project videos
Project documents
Newsletters
E-Brochure
CIREVALC PILOT SOLUTIONS CATALOGUE (EBOOK)
Catalogue presents the pilot solutions developed within the CIREVALC Accelerator, highlighting practical circular economy approaches, key achievements, lessons learned and transferable good practices from across Central Europe.
LOCAL SUCCESS STRORIES (EBOOK)
E-Brochure compiles case studies, turning micro-level analyses into stories of success.
Podcasts: Circular Bites – tasty bits of circular thinking
Episode 5: beyond the bottle — deposit return systems and the future of packaging recovery
This episode explores the role of deposit return systems in improving packaging recovery and advancing circular economy solutions for packaging
Episode 4: Rethinking Packaging: Circular Solutions Beyond Recycling
This episode explores circular food packaging, focusing on recyclable solutions, EU policy and industry challenges.
Episode 3: Beyond the bin – circular practices for zero-waste gastronomy
This episode explores circular practices in restaurants, focusing on waste reduction, local sourcing and zero-waste solutions.
Episode 2: Beyond green & growth – Sobons inclusive approach to circularity.
This episode explores a circular food business model combining economic success, social impact and waste reduction.
Episode 1: The what, how and why of circular economy in the food sector – definition & potential.
This episode introduces circular economy basics, R-strategies and their application in Austria’s food sector.
Follow Our Journey through Partnership Meetings and Study Visits
České Budějovice, Czech Republic, November 7-8, 2024
Innovative Solutions for Sustainable Packaging & Food Practices
Pécs, Hungary, June 11-13, 2024
Advancing Circular Economy: Exploring Best Practices in Pécs, Hungary
Bled, Slovenia, March 20–21, 2024
Towards Sustainable Catering: Exploring Best Practices in Bled, Radovljica and Bohinj in Gorenjska region, Slovenia
Project Collaboration
Cirevalc Intro D4pack 20241029
STRIA (LP) introdcued CIREVALC at the 1st capitalisation workshop of the D4PACK Interreg Central project. The workshop featured several interesting R&D results in sustainable food packaging.
CIREVALC
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