EU Subtract

SRL 3 - initial testing of proposed solution(s) together with relevant stakeholders

EU Subtract

Create sustainable reuse business models for SMEs from recycling centers, increase the volumes of reuse via recycling centres and make reuse economically sustainable.

Umeå, Västerbotten, Sweden

ORGANISATION / PARTNERS

Vakin

BUSINESS MODEL

SCALE: Regional

Stakeholder:

Public Sector

Type:

G2B - Government to BusinessG2C - Government to Consumer

BUSINESS MODEL FORMAT:

Product Type(s):

FACET & LEVEL

FACET:

RecyclingRepairReuseSocial EnterpriseWaste Management

LEVEL:

Macro - Cities, Regions, Nations

Cities, Regions, Nations
Meso - Network, Cluster & Eco-Industrial Parks

Network, Cluster & Eco-Industrial Parks
Micro - Company/Organisation

Company/Organisation

SOCIETAL READINESS LEVEL & POTENTIAL

FUTURE POTENTIAL

ScaleableReplicableNetworkable

SOCIETAL READINESS LEVEL

SRL 3 - initial testing of proposed solution(s) together with relevant stakeholders

SRL 3 - initial testing of proposed solution(s) together with relevant stakeholders

CIRCULAR CYCLE PHASE

STATUS & TIMELINE

Start date	10/2019
Exchange of experience
3 Regional workshops
End of project: January 2022

DESCRIPTION

TITLE: EU Subtract

CONCEPT: Create sustainable reuse business models for SMEs from recycling centers, increase the volumes of reuse via recycling centres and make reuse economically sustainable.

SUBTRACT is an Interreg Europe project, running from August 2019 to January 2022. SUBTRACT looks at reuse centres and SMEs and identifies the conditions for them to be economically, socially and environmentally sustainable.

As part of a strategic exchange of knowledge and experience, the project will investigate and make proposals for how the potential for reuse centres can be developed and make them economically sustainable.

Measures that prevent waste, contribute to reuse and encourage citizen participation will be both identified and implemented during the project. Business models for making reuse financially sustainable will be investigated and evaluated in the project.

During the project, strategies for behavioural change regarding reuse, campaign models and other appropriate measures will also be developed and tested to stimulate both supply and demand for reuse goods.

LOCAL LANGUAGE DESCRIPTION: Svenska

SUBTRACT, är ett Interreg Europe-projekt som pågår från augusti 2019 till januari 2022.

Som en del av ett strategiskt utbyte av kunskaper och erfarenheter kommer projektet att undersöka och ge förslag för hur potentialen för återbrukscentraler (re-use centres) kan utvecklas och göra dem ekonomiskt hållbara.

Tanken är att åtgärder som förebygger avfall och bidrar till återanvändning samt gynnar invånarnas bidrag till återbruk kommer att både identifieras och genomföras under projektet. Affärsmodeller för att göra återbruk ekonomiskt hållbart kommer att undersökas och utvärderas i projektet.

Även strategier till beteendeförändringar kring återbruk, kampanjmodeller och andra lämpliga åtgärder kommer att utvecklas och testas för att stimulera tillgång och efterfrågan på återanvändbara varor och göra dem attraktiva och önskvärda under projektets gång.

IMPACT

BARRIERS

MARKET
- High upfront investment costs
- Low virgin material prices
- Limited reverse logistics capacity
- Demand for low prices
- Complementary skills/services required
- Lack of fiscal tools for internalizing environmental costs
TECHNOLOGICAL
- Ability to deliver high quality remanufactured products
- Geographic dispersion of products/materials
- Regional service economy infrastructure
- Complexity of the materials to be recycled
REGULATORY
- Obstructing laws and regulations
- Lack of global consensus
SOCIAL
- Lack of awareness
- Consumption habits
- Social status linked to consumption
- Negative socio-economic status associated with sharing & buying second-hand
CULTURAL
- Lack of leadership
- Company/community culture
- Limited understanding on impacts
- Consumer interest and awareness
- Change of mindset

ENABLERS

CULTURAL
- Integration of the CE concept into training and educational programs
- Supporting an inclusive workforce
- A creative and skilled problem-solving resource
- Preparation of future professional practices and understanding
SOCIAL
- Change in the choices made by consumers
- Increased status related to second-hand and circular products
- Civic engagement and voluntary activities
- Shared norms, values, attitudes, and beliefs
REGULATORY
- Green & Circular Procurement
- Tax shift from Labour to Resources
- No or low VAT on circular products and services
- Foster the development of new technologies with the support of public authorities
- Assess progress using reliable indicators for imports and local production while accounting for the life cycles of products
- Use of circular performance indicators by governments, investors and businesses can encourage the value chain to become more circular
- Investment in education and employment services to prepare the market for the next economy
TECHNOLOGICAL
- Increased environmental performance
- Digital technologies and engineering to support business models
MARKET
- Knowledge of impact
- Functional service economy (XaaS)
- Digital infrastructure