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Industry 4.0 R-strategies Sustainability
Circular Economy CE Action Plan Linear Economy
Circular Start-ups Start-up Take-Make-Waste

1.a. Description of the Module: “Circular Economy in your start-up”

This Module will focus on explaining the concept of Circular Economy (CE), and how
it can be further embraced as a sustainable way of thinking and operating, for the
EU start-ups of the 21st century. The model of CE is highly beneficial, and can
positively affect all the economy, the environment and the citizens of the
European Union. When correctly applied, CE can become a crucial parameter for
economic growth, create new jobs, encourage innovation and build economic and
environmental resilience.

Once adopted in a coordinated manner by all EU member states, the CE model
could act as the catalyst, and hence transforming the European economy, to a
more competitive and sustainable one.

Learning and absorbing the basics of the CE model, is very important for
startuppers and young entrepreneurs, because the European Commission has set
out a vision to complete all structural and technological changes in order to
upgrade the EU economic into a sustainable one by 2050. In this view, the current
“linear economic model” should slowly and steadily abandon the scene of industry
operations; instead, the CE model is slowly creating a new shift in the existing
paradigm, where the value of products, materials and resources is maintained in
the economy for as long as possible, and the generation of waste is minimised.

In order to successfully achieve this transition into a more sustainable future, the
CE model needs to be disseminated, understood and put into practice. Start-ups
are by far quicker to adjust their busines models (due to their size & efficient
management systems) into this resource-efficient way of thinking, thus they can
become leaders in this transition.

Programme: Erasmus+
Key Action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices
Action Type: Strategic Partnerships for vocational education and training
Project Number: 2019-1-PL01-KA202-065209
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