Circular spaces Newsletter #3

June 2024 September 2024 Edition #03

NEWSLETTER

CIRCULAR SPACES Transforming makerspaces to circular economy principles

TOP NEWS OF THE PROJECT

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE IN DENMARK Project partners in Latvia, Germany, Norway and Denmark are organising free training sessions and workshops based on the 9 topics included in project's "Circular spaces" developed training program.

The trainings might be both physical and virtual meetings.

Please check project's "Circular spaces" website to see all upcoming events.

Join the Circular Spaces International Conference on October 10th-11th, 2024, at Maker V-10, Copenhagen. This event will gather makers, designers, policymakers, and sustainability advocates to explore circular economy practices in makerspaces. Expect hands-on workshops, expert presentations, and exhibitions showcasing innovation in sustainable design and materials reuse. Attend in person or online!

More: t.ly/2jyJQ

FREE TRAININGS AND WORKSHOPS AVAILABLE

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EMPOWERING THE FUTURE OF SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES BY CREATING A DIGITAL TOOL In a significant stride towards fostering sustainable innovation and collaboration, the project’s “Circular spaces” team is thrilled to announce the launch of its new Digital Circular collaboration tool, designed to empower makerspaces, makers, SMEs, start-ups, suppliers and others to share and implement sustainable practices. This tool is designed to help optimize how we approach circularity and sustainability.

WHAT ARE THE KEY FEATURES THAT THE TOOL HOLDS? Circular Maturity Test: This essential self-assessment tool allows businesses and individuals to gauge their current level of circularity. This test provides invaluable insights, helping users understand where they stand in their sustainability journey and what steps they can take to improve. The test has been created for five different user groups – makerspaces, makers, SMEs and start-ups, suppliers and others.

Furthermore, there is an additional perk for makerspaces – the opportunity to receive a circularity label after taking the test and receiving a specific result. The label will be added to the makerspace’s profile created by its representative and will be seen by others.

Training program: A comprehensive training program has been created and made accessible to the public. The program covers nine topics which complement each other. It is designed to equip users with the knowledge and skills necessary to implement sustainable practices effectively. Each module consists of methodological notes which serve as a guiding material for trainers, and a presentation which can be adjusted to the target group specifical needs.

Guidelines: The aim of these guidelines is to provide practical and actionable insights for makerspaces to foster a transition towards a circular economy. By aligning with regional sustainability goals and economic resilience strategies, these guidelines are designed to ensure impactful and measurable contributions to sustainability. The guide elaborates on ten aspects or must-haves for makerspaces to transition into circular makerspaces. Each of them includes a checklist of the aspect-specific actions which is followed by a list of tools and templates that makerspace can use.

Circularity label for products: A unique feature that allows users to add a circularity label to their products when publishing them on the platform. This label signifies that the product meets specific sustainability criteria, enhancing its value and visibility in the market.

Forum for collaboration: A topic “Circular economy” in the forum has been created. It is a place where users can connect, share experiences, and collaborate on sustainable projects.

The creation of the digital tool is a response to the growing need for industry-wide collaboration in addressing sustainability challenges. By connecting various stakeholders – from makers to suppliers – the platform bridges the gap between knowledge and action, ensuring that sustainable practices are not only discussed but implemented.

The purpose of the tool is to assist its users in adaptation to circular economy principles as well as to set a platform to network with each other. The digital tool can be accessed here: makertech.com. To make the registration progress easier, video tutorials have been created.

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LAUNCH OF A NEW GUIDE TRANSFORMATION INTO CIRCULAR MAKERSPACES: A PRACTICAL STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE FOR MAKERSPACES” As the world embraces the principles of the circular economy, the "Circular spaces" consortium is taking a significant step forward with the release of a new guide designed to transform makerspaces into circular innovation hubs. The guide “Transformation into Circular Makerspaces: A Practical Step-by-Step Guide for Makerspaces,” aims to assist makerspaces across the region in adopting circular economy practices, aligning with regional ambitions for sustainability and economic resilience.

This guide has been developed as part of the Interreg Baltic Sea Region project “Circular Spaces” and comes at a pivotal time as the European Union accelerates its efforts toward sustainability, particularly through the Circular Economy Action Plan under the European Green Deal. The guide offers a comprehensive roadmap for makerspaces, covering ten essential aspects for transitioning to circularity. It addresses critical areas such as strategy and culture for circularity, assessment and planning, education and training, and material management. Each section is accompanied by practical checklists and tools designed to facilitate the transformation process for makerspaces.

The guide places a strong emphasis on the unique environmental challenges and economic landscape of the Baltic Sea Region, highlighting the importance of circular economy principles as a pathway to reduce environmental pressures, enhance resource efficiency, and unlock new opportunities for innovation and growth. It also includes various tools and templates, such as a circular maturity test, SWOT analysis canvas, and strategy map, all designed to assist makerspaces in their journey toward circularity.

This guide is not just a manual; it’s a call to action for makerspaces to lead the way in the circular economy. By adopting these practices, makerspaces can play a crucial role in building a sustainable future for the Baltic Sea Region.

EVIJA NAGLE, "CIRCULAR SPACES" PROJECT MANAGER

Makerspaces are positioned as key players in fostering community engagement, supporting local businesses, and promoting sustainable practices. The guide underscores the role of makerspaces as innovation hubs, educational centers, and promoters of economic growth in the region. Developed with input from experts and makerspaces across the Baltic Sea Region, the guide reflects the collaborative spirit of the maker movement and serves as a resource for makerspaces, entrepreneurs, and communities committed to advancing the circular economy.

The guidelines are available on project's website interreg-baltic.eu/project/circular-spaces

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EXPLORING AND ADAPTING THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY FOR LITHUANIAN INNOVATION LANDSCAPE Circular economy principles are becoming vital to Lithuania's entrepreneurial landscape, influencing startups, established businesses, and community-driven makerspaces. These principles promote sustainable practices by minimizing waste, extending product life cycles, and encouraging resource reuse.

But what are the tangible benefits and potential hurdles for those adopting these methods? Tech-Park Kaunas and the international "Circular Spaces" team offer free consultations to help Lithuanian businesses, creative workshop coordinators, artists, local government representatives, and other innovators navigate the shift toward a more sustainable and circular economy.

BEGINNINGS ARE CHALLENGING In Europe, where sustainability is a priority, integrating circular practices into makerspaces promotes resource efficiency and contributes to a greener future. "Circular methods are especially useful for startup entrepreneurs and developer communities in general because they not only help to reduce the amount of waste but also encourage innovation and the development of new technologies, which can provide a competitive advantage and create new jobs," says Živilė Paužaitė, coordinator of Tech-Park Kaunas sustainability activities and the Head of Quality. She is also one of the representatives of the Interreg BSR program "Circular Spaces" project team in Lithuania.

The experts of Tech-Park Kaunas, which unites a community of more than 100 innovation creators, note that when implementing circularity, knowledge and experience are needed to catalyze positive changes.

Technology parks become centers of training and practice, promoting cooperation and exchange of knowledge. Here, the circular principles correspond to the values of both startups and creative workshops, instilling in creators the habit of generating ideas that have a sustainability dimension.

PAULIUS NEZBITAUSKAS, TECH-PARK KAUNAS DIRECTOR

Startups often operate with limited resources, so circular practices are very important. By reusing materials, sharing resources, and creating a design that ensures longevity, startups are created conditions for creating promising innovations.

VAIVA KELMELYTĖ, DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS AT TECH-PARK KAUNAS

THE FOCUS ON CIRCULARITY Although circularity is no longer a novelty, businesses often interpret this principle in different ways and look for inspiration on how to apply it to their operations. One such place, the engineering creative workshop open to the public, has great potential for integrating circular practices, thereby promoting the efficient use of resources.

"Makerspaces have existed in Lithuania, as well as all over the world, for decades. These are spaces where people can make various things with their own hands, engage in engineering creativity and experiment with new ideas. In the last decade, the application of the principles of the circular economy has become especially active in these workshops, and five years ago this direction was further strengthened by political declarations, legal and regulatory documents", notes the Circular Economy expert assoc. prof. dr.

Visvaldas Varžinskas.

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CHANGE IS DRIVEN BY USERS The expert emphasizes that more and more consumers are choosing to abandon fast fashion and start using things longer, thus reducing the amount of waste and the impact on the environment. This change coincides with the philosophy of the workshop, where it is important to save resources, create new products from reused materials and satisfy curiosity by fixing and renewing old things.

As consumers become more environmentally conscious, businesses must also respond to these needs. This changes the linear model "produce, consume and throw away", waste becomes raw material for creating new products, offering various services that help to reduce the amount of waste.

ASSOC. PROF. DR. VISVALDAS VARŽINSKAS

THE CHANGE IS FROM PRODUCT TO FEATURE According to the expert, the principles of the circular economy promote dematerialization and the emergence of new business models. The very philosophy of consumers and producers is changing, it is not the product itself that is important, but the function that the consumer wants.

"For example, rental coffee machines and copiers are becoming popular in offices, which are used longer and more efficiently. The user no longer needs to purchase and operate expensive devices when he only needs a function - a cup of coffee or a copy of a document. This not only reduces the amount of waste, saves financial resources, but also promotes innovation. Creative workshops become centres for prototyping new circular business ideas. For those who wish to present product innovations to industry and investors, here developers test 3D printing innovations, technological possibilities of material processing, and the properties of newly created pilot products", emphasizes the Circular Economy expert assoc. prof. dr. Visvaldas Varžinskas.

OPEN CALL FOR CONSULTATIONS As the European Green Deal changes both economic and political agendas, the integration of circular economy principles becomes not only an advantage but also a necessity. Business representatives notice emerging challenges; and emphasize the need to continuously invest in education and infrastructure to manage resources and waste effectively. However, growing interest in sustainability and new technologies offers hope that these challenges will be overcome.

From left: Živilė Paužaitė, Vaiva Kelmelytė, dr. Visvaldas Varžinskas, Paulius Nezbitauskas

We have invited representatives of business support organizations and creative workshops, creators and artists, businesses and local government representatives to register for free individual consultations. They found it very valuable. The training program developed by the international team of the "Circular Spaces" project of the "Interreg BSR" program together with Tech-Park Kaunas opens the opportunity to deepen knowledge about the circular economy and its application ŽIVILĖ PAUŽAITĖ, COORDINATOR OF TECH-PARK KAUNAS SUSTAINABILITY ACTIVITIES AND THE HEAD OF QUALITY

Tech-Park Kaunas Team

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INTERNATIONAL TEAMS INNOVATING SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS IN MAKERSPACES In Latvia, Germany, Denmark, and Norway, international teams within the project are turning plastic, paper, and other discarded items into useful and creative products. They are showing how waste can be transformed into something valuable, using technology and teamwork to promote sustainability and reduce waste.

INTERNATIONAL TEAMS IN MAKERSPACE DARE, VALMIERA, LATVIA Team proposal is to create a product made of dog fur (sweater), also using different equipment in DARE makerspace to create sustainable packaging for the product and custom hanger that is needed for this type of product. The team consists of (1) a designer, environmental artist, teacher, (2) technology expert in DARE makerspace and (3) Community and Lab manager at Maker makerspace (Denmark).

Team proposal is to create a product using plastic waste from 3D printing that is accumulated in the makerspace (PLA plastic filament leftovers, plastic spools). In order to achieve that they will create mould for product using equipment in the makerspace (3d printer, CNC and laser cutter). The team consists of (1) designer, maker, (2) designer, (3) DARE makerspace manager, and (4) Community and Lab manager at Maker makerspace (Denmark).

INTERNATIONAL TEAMS IN MAKERSPACE RADE, VENTSPILS, LATVIA The team consists of three people – Elīna and Baiba who live in Ventspils, Latvia, and Jan who lives in Stavanger, Norway. They are all more than willing to jump into the project “Circular makerspaces” to put unneeded materials to use and create something beautiful. They have two ideas in mind. The first one is creating light boxes from plastic leftovers. The box would have various cut-out ornaments and lights of different colours. The second idea is to create design pins for clothes from acrylic plastic leftovers. The material leftovers will be supplied by a local business.

INTERNATIONAL TEAMS IN MAKERSPACE MAKER, COPENHAGEN, DENMARK Studio CircOlar is a material-driven design studio. We aim for critically embracing the as-found condition, repurposing materials, and inspiring collective engagement. Currently we are working with grass and paper waste. We source paper waste from museums in Copenhagen, mainly from Kongernes Samling. As for the grass, we have been in contact with the municipality of Køge and Dansk Golf Union as the resource of grass clippings from roadsides and green space.

The idea of combining grass and paper waste as fiber-based composite material comes from the concerns we see in the current centralized recycling industry, both that of grass and of paper, as well as the potentials of those two materials complementing each other. We aim to revolutionize our perception of paper and grass, from a mundane and ephemeral resource that can only be downcycled, to a strengthened bio-based material to be creative with. We wish to expose the hidden industrial processes to the public through the so-called imperfections in our creations, the imperfections that challenge if a piece of paper needs to be bleached, be flattened or even be made into a sheet, in order to serve as a communicational means.

Studio CircOlar has been teamed up with their local mentor, Asger Nørregård Rasmussen from Maker, as well as Nauris Boguts and his team from Ventspils High Technology Park in Latvia.

Link to the website: Studio CircOlar.

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INTERNATIONAL TEAMS IN MAKERSPACE GEWERBEHOF, LUCKENWALDE, GERMANY Pedro Moraes (1990, São Paulo, Brazil) is a Berlin-based visual artist whose work spans various media, exploring contrasts and consumption. His background in Industrial Design and Fine Arts, coupled with his experience of immigration, deeply influenced his art. The Circular Project by Moraes combines industrial objects with 3D-printed pieces to create sculptures, focusing on upcycling and reclaiming old tech pieces.

The project questions resource use and planned obsolescence, encouraging audiences to reflect on their consumption habits and sustainability.

Mathias Gramoso was born in 1990 in Paris, France. Lives and works in between Berlin, Germany, and Porto, Portugal. His work explores the profound interplay between the natural elements and human emotion through technology. For this project research, he will explore different types of materialities, as on his previous work he has been engraving on old television screens and to further research this process creating new types of sculpture in connection with language, sound, and geometry.

João José Santos (1988 Porto, Portugal) is an architect and designer focusing on creative and functional design. His current project explores economic circularity by creating versatile objects, such as a shelf and a step, using reclaimed materials and innovative brackets. By emphasizing durability and adaptability, João aims to reduce waste and inspire sustainable practices. He values maker spaces for their role in enabling individuals, challenging traditional consumption habits, and fostering engagement with ecofriendly living.

Santiago Burelli, (1993, Caracas, Venezuela) is an artist working across various mediums. His projects explore recycled materials, space, and sound. In “Lumino-Sonoro Circularity,” he 3D prints an omnidirectional sound system. This project examines the extractivist production cycle experientially.

INTERNATIONAL TEAMS IN MAKERSPACE CREATOR, STAVANGER, NORWAY Giorgio Pattarini is an applied physicist, working on material science and technology development.

With the company Pattarini Practical Technologies, based in Stavanger, Norway leverages years of expertise in the so called “Soft Matter”, which means particle suspensions in liquids, emulsions and structural composites. Customers were Fossil iFuel industry in the past and Related to the Circular Makerspaces project, the company has worked in partnership with Spectrum Blue company founded by the disruptive manager Brage Johansen, to produce filamen and resin for 3D printing, incorporating a new granular material with antibacterial and photocatalytic function.

Related to the observation and characterization of composite materials, Pattarini is also founder of the startup Abyssar Optics, specialized in the design and manufacture of special microscope and camera objectives. for imaging inside high RI mediums.

Link to the website: abyssar.com

Keep up with all project related activities on our project's website https://interregbaltic.eu/project/circular-spaces/ Look for section 'Events' to find the upcoming workshops and events.

Studio CircOlar

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