The UNITED CIRCLES Project, a flagship initiative under the European Union’s Horizon Europe programme, has officially launched with a vibrant and collaborative kickoff meeting in Valladolid. Coordinated by FUNDACIÓN CARTIF, the project brings together 46 partners from 14 countries and one international organization (UNITAR), forming a dynamic alliance to advance circular economy solutions across urban and industrial systems.
UNITED CIRCLES—short for “Urban-Industrial symbiosis and NEtworked ecohubs Through Integrated circular CIRCLES”—aims to address the challenges of urban and industrial waste management by creating integrated, scalable, and sustainable systems that convert waste into resources. The project’s vision is to unlock the full potential of industrial-urban symbiosis as a driver for Europe’s circular and zero-waste future.
A New Model of Circularity: Turning Waste into Resources
At the heart of UNITED CIRCLES is the belief that waste streams from urban and industrial sources are untapped reservoirs of value. The project focuses on three key waste categories:
- Construction and Demolition Waste (C&DW): Developing technologies and methods to reclaim and reuse building materials.
- Urban and Industrial Wastewater: Implementing new treatment techniques to recover clean water, nutrients, and energy.
- Food Waste: Converting organic residues into high-value bioproducts, including compost, bioenergy, and bioplastics.
These efforts will not only reduce landfill usage and environmental pollution but also pave the way for new green value chains.
Hubs for Circularity: Innovation Across Borders
UNITED CIRCLES is structured around the creation of seven Hubs for Circularity (H4C), which will act as regional platforms for innovation, demonstration, and replication.
Demonstration Hubs
- Salamanca, Spain – Transforming wastewater treatment plants into circular resource recovery centers.
- Veneto, Italy – Producing biodegradable bioplastics from used cooking oil.
- Ankara, Turkey – Using recycled construction materials to 3D-print low-carbon housing components.
Mirroring Hubs
These regions will replicate demonstration hub strategies with local adaptations:
- Eastern Macedonia and Thrace (Greece)
- South-East England (UK)
- Gauteng (South Africa)
- Southern Transdanubia (Hungary)
Seed Hubs
Early-stage adopters to prepare groundwork for future replication:
- Beirut (Lebanon)
- Graz (Austria)
- Velenje (Slovenia)
- Nouvelle-Aquitaine (France)
Each hub serves as a knowledge center, connecting municipalities, industries, researchers, and local communities in a shared mission to design and scale circular economy models.
A Collaborative and Multi-Sectoral Approach
The project’s success hinges on the involvement of a broad spectrum of stakeholders. Partners include research institutions, municipalities, SMEs, NGOs, and global entities such as UNITAR. This diverse consortium ensures a well-rounded approach that addresses not just technical challenges, but also economic, social, and policy dimensions of circularity.
The kickoff meeting provided the perfect setting for partners to align goals, clarify roles, and share best practices. Sessions focused on stakeholder engagement, technological roadmaps, data-sharing protocols, and regulatory barriers. The event also marked the beginning of a long-term journey in co-creation and knowledge exchange.
Supporting the European Green Deal
UNITED CIRCLES contributes directly to the European Green Deal, the EU Circular Economy Action Plan, and the Climate-Neutral Cities Mission. By enabling cities and industries to reuse, recycle, and recover, the project fosters economic resilience, climate neutrality, and environmental stewardship.
What Comes Next?
Over the next four years, UNITED CIRCLES will implement the Hubs, generate policy recommendations, develop circularity assessment tools, and build a networked community committed to systemic change.
For more information and ongoing updates, follow the UNITED CIRCLES page or visit our social.
Together, through collaboration, innovation, and action, we can turn today’s waste into tomorrow’s opportunity.
