How can circular economy strategies move from policy goals to concrete, locally grounded action?
Institutes & CentersInstitute for Renewable Energy - Urban and regional energy systems - News - Participatory pathways to circular and sustainable cities
A new scientific paper has been published in AMPS Proceedings Series 45 – Livable Cities (Lisbon 2025). The article, “Participatory and co‑creative approaches towards more circular and sustainable cities”, is authored by Sonia Chelinho, Daniel Ferreira, Joana Ramos (Polytechnic University of Coimbra), and Federico Voltolini, Chiara Pellegrini (Eurac Research), together with Érica Castanheira.
The paper presents the participatory and co‑creative approach developed within the ECLECTIC project, showing how City‑Region Living Labs in Bolzano, Coimbra, Gothenburg and Jonava engage public authorities, businesses, researchers, civil society and citizens to co‑create circular economy strategies.
These processes combine technical evidence, like urban metabolism analysis and life‑cycle assessment, with local knowledge and stakeholder perspectives.
Takeaway:
• technical solutions alone are not sufficient to enable circular and sustainable urban transitions
• Inclusive governance, clear communication and long‑term stakeholder engagement are essential to ensure that circular strategies are realistic, socially just and implementableThis project has been funded by Formas, FCT, LMT and MUR under the Driving Urban Transitions Partnership, which has been co-funded by the European Union.
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