Periodic Reporting for period 1 - CIRCLEUP (100 Households, 100 Circular Stories: Inspiring Sustainable Living in Europe)
Période du rapport: 2024-01-01 au 2025-06-30
CIRCLEUP is an innovative project designed to accelerate the adoption of circular economy practices at the household level. Its main goal is to streamline the flow of materials in and out of homes and close resource loops wherever possible, supporting the broader transition to a circular economy. The project introduces a comprehensive behavioral change package that combines consultation, gamification, and feedback techniques. This is supported by a digital tool that delivers these interventions. Through this approach, CIRCLEUP aims to shift social norms, spark dialogue, and encourage individuals to rethink their daily habits. Participants will be encouraged to identify as "circular citizens" and take part in group activities that promote sustainable behaviors and discourage wasteful ones.
An interactive tech platform will play a key role, enabling participants to connect beyond their immediate social circles. Sharing experiences and joining group efforts will help strengthen community bonds, meet social needs, and boost self-esteem. To deepen understanding and skills, simulation tools and interactive learning environments will help users assess policies and practices related to sustainable consumption, using system dynamics modeling for strategic evaluation. The effectiveness of the intervention will be tested in 100 model households across four culturally and structurally diverse countries. The project is led by Riga Technical University’s Institute of Energy Systems and Environment (IESE) and involves 10 core partners from Latvia, Norway, the UK, Germany, and Portugal. The participating households, selected to represent various European living conditions, will serve as pioneers of circular lifestyle change. In addition to the digital platform, personalized counseling and on-site assessments will support participants at key stages of their transition. CIRCLEUP will design, test, and implement this intervention across a diverse group of 100 European households. The package includes five well-established elements that have been proven effective in past projects, but here they are combined in a new, integrated way through a central digital platform. This approach draws on the latest advances in behavioral science, system modeling, engineering, and environmental communication to help households adopt circular practices. CIRCLEUP aims to combine insights from EU and international projects to create a powerful, ready-to-deploy intervention package. By implementing it in real-world settings, the project seeks to move beyond the typical pilot phase and demonstrate how meaningful lifestyle change is both achievable and scalable.
An interactive tech platform will play a key role, enabling participants to connect beyond their immediate social circles. Sharing experiences and joining group efforts will help strengthen community bonds, meet social needs, and boost self-esteem. To deepen understanding and skills, simulation tools and interactive learning environments will help users assess policies and practices related to sustainable consumption, using system dynamics modeling for strategic evaluation. The effectiveness of the intervention will be tested in 100 model households across four culturally and structurally diverse countries. The project is led by Riga Technical University’s Institute of Energy Systems and Environment (IESE) and involves 10 core partners from Latvia, Norway, the UK, Germany, and Portugal. The participating households, selected to represent various European living conditions, will serve as pioneers of circular lifestyle change. In addition to the digital platform, personalized counseling and on-site assessments will support participants at key stages of their transition. CIRCLEUP will design, test, and implement this intervention across a diverse group of 100 European households. The package includes five well-established elements that have been proven effective in past projects, but here they are combined in a new, integrated way through a central digital platform. This approach draws on the latest advances in behavioral science, system modeling, engineering, and environmental communication to help households adopt circular practices. CIRCLEUP aims to combine insights from EU and international projects to create a powerful, ready-to-deploy intervention package. By implementing it in real-world settings, the project seeks to move beyond the typical pilot phase and demonstrate how meaningful lifestyle change is both achievable and scalable.
The project remains on track, with progress aligned to the Description of Action (DoA) and its targeted outcomes under the call. Work is ongoing across all active work packages, with strong collaboration between partners and timely delivery of key outputs.
WP1 – Project Management, Coordination & Data Management (Lead: RTU)
• Project management structures and internal collaboration tools have been successfully established.
• Risk monitoring and deliverable tracking systems implemented.
• Delivered D1.1 D1.2 D1.3.
• Ensured data governance and coordination to support WP2 and WP3 progress.
WP2 – Development of Conceptual Framework and Methodology (Lead: NTNU)
• Developed evidence-based behavior change framework (D2.1).
• Designed intervention logic (nudging, feedback, gamification) and user engagement strategies.
• Contributed methodological input to WP3 (platform design) and WP4 (pilot setup).
• Advanced development of monitoring and evaluation methodology (D2.2 in progress).
WP3 – Development of Digital Platform and Impact Assessment (Lead: NOVA)
• Initiated development of platform architecture and behavioral modules.
• Defined user interface and back-end data acquisition structure.
• Progressed smart bin integration and LCA modelling for key consumption areas.
• Developed system dynamics modelling framework and early versions of SD learning tools.
• Advanced D3.1: Initial version of the digital platform.
WP4 – Piloting Projects (Lead: RTU)
• Designed household recruitment and onboarding strategy (D4.1 in progress).
• Began procurement and testing of smart bins.
• Developed advisor training concept aligned with intervention methods (D4.2 in progress).
• Field testing initiated for digital tools and smart bin setup.
WP5 – Evaluation of Results, Conclusions & Recommendations (Lead: HRW)
Not active during this reporting period. However, the initial evaluation framework already integrated within D2.2.
WP1 – Project Management, Coordination & Data Management (Lead: RTU)
• Project management structures and internal collaboration tools have been successfully established.
• Risk monitoring and deliverable tracking systems implemented.
• Delivered D1.1 D1.2 D1.3.
• Ensured data governance and coordination to support WP2 and WP3 progress.
WP2 – Development of Conceptual Framework and Methodology (Lead: NTNU)
• Developed evidence-based behavior change framework (D2.1).
• Designed intervention logic (nudging, feedback, gamification) and user engagement strategies.
• Contributed methodological input to WP3 (platform design) and WP4 (pilot setup).
• Advanced development of monitoring and evaluation methodology (D2.2 in progress).
WP3 – Development of Digital Platform and Impact Assessment (Lead: NOVA)
• Initiated development of platform architecture and behavioral modules.
• Defined user interface and back-end data acquisition structure.
• Progressed smart bin integration and LCA modelling for key consumption areas.
• Developed system dynamics modelling framework and early versions of SD learning tools.
• Advanced D3.1: Initial version of the digital platform.
WP4 – Piloting Projects (Lead: RTU)
• Designed household recruitment and onboarding strategy (D4.1 in progress).
• Began procurement and testing of smart bins.
• Developed advisor training concept aligned with intervention methods (D4.2 in progress).
• Field testing initiated for digital tools and smart bin setup.
WP5 – Evaluation of Results, Conclusions & Recommendations (Lead: HRW)
Not active during this reporting period. However, the initial evaluation framework already integrated within D2.2.
By Month 18, the CIRCLEUP project has advanced significantly in integrating behavior science, digital tools, and circular economy (CE) principles into a coherent and innovative intervention package aimed at household-level transformation. The main technical and scientific results include:
• Development of a modular, theory-based behavioral intervention package combining feedback, gamification, social comparison, and nudging, based on proven elements validated in large-scale projects like ENCHANT, CAMPAIGNERS, and OPOWER, and including a community-building concept based on social identification.
• Methodology development for assessing the psychological and behavioural effects as well as the environmental effects of this intervention package
• Design of an integrated digital platform to serve as the operational backbone for delivering circular interventions, enabling personalized engagement through smart waste bins, behavior tracking, dynamic feedback, and interactive learning environments (ILEs) grounded in system dynamics (SD) modeling.
• Smart bin prototyping and integration with platform architecture for real-time waste monitoring and feedback provision, supporting awareness and self-regulation among users.
• Sampling design and preparation for pilot rollouts in four European countries, ensuring socio-cultural diversity and robustness of findings across contexts.
• Framework for data-driven behavioral diagnostics and impact assessment, aligning household-level activities with broader CE indicators beyond waste minimization (e.g. resource loops, consumption patterns, community dynamics).
The work performed in the Project is still in progress, and the project is poised to generate transformative impacts across environmental, social, technological, and policy domains in the next period to maximize CIRCLEUP's systemic potential and transition from demonstration to widespread adoption.
• Development of a modular, theory-based behavioral intervention package combining feedback, gamification, social comparison, and nudging, based on proven elements validated in large-scale projects like ENCHANT, CAMPAIGNERS, and OPOWER, and including a community-building concept based on social identification.
• Methodology development for assessing the psychological and behavioural effects as well as the environmental effects of this intervention package
• Design of an integrated digital platform to serve as the operational backbone for delivering circular interventions, enabling personalized engagement through smart waste bins, behavior tracking, dynamic feedback, and interactive learning environments (ILEs) grounded in system dynamics (SD) modeling.
• Smart bin prototyping and integration with platform architecture for real-time waste monitoring and feedback provision, supporting awareness and self-regulation among users.
• Sampling design and preparation for pilot rollouts in four European countries, ensuring socio-cultural diversity and robustness of findings across contexts.
• Framework for data-driven behavioral diagnostics and impact assessment, aligning household-level activities with broader CE indicators beyond waste minimization (e.g. resource loops, consumption patterns, community dynamics).
The work performed in the Project is still in progress, and the project is poised to generate transformative impacts across environmental, social, technological, and policy domains in the next period to maximize CIRCLEUP's systemic potential and transition from demonstration to widespread adoption.