Developing circular pathways for a EU low-carbon transition (CircEUlar)

The CircEUlar project investigated the dynamics and levers of societal transformation towards a low-carbon circular economy by developing new modelling approaches and integrating insights from across disciplines. It examined how circularity can be strengthened through three key pathways: 

• Dematerialization and the transition towards a service-based economy, reducing the growth of material stocks; 
• Extending the lifetime of material stocks through repair, maintenance and reuse; 
• Improving waste treatment and recycling systems to enable more circular material flows.

Through new data and modelling approaches, CircEUlar analyzed economy-wide material stocks and flows, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and industrial value chains across interconnected sectors. Particular attention was given to mobility and buildings, two highly material-intensive sectors with significant potential for circular transformation. The project also explored the role of digitalization as an enabler of dematerialization and more circular supply chains. 

A comprehensive approach to circular economy transformation

CircEUlar brought together diverse sources of data, knowledge and expertise to assess circular economy opportunities and impacts. This included insights on the roles of firms and consumers for the adoption of circular economy practices, industry perspectives on innovations and circular business models, and modelling of economy-wide material stocks and flows to identify pathways and policy levers supporting societal transformation. 

The project findings were integrated into EU and global modelling frameworks, enabling the analysis of:

• alternative pathways to net-zero GHG emissions and increased circularity;  
• effective policy levers for both circular production and consumption; 
• impacts on climate, environment, economy and society, in line with European Green Deal objectives. 

Partners

• The International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) (Austria) - Coordinator
• University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU) (Austria)
• Centro Euro-Mediterraneo sui Cambiamenti Climatici (CMCC) (Italy)
• Ludwig-Maximilians Universität München (LMU) (Germany)
• Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) (Norway)
• University of Groningen (RUG) (Netherlands)
• T6 Ecosystems (T6) (Italy)
• Technische Universität Berlin (TUB) (Germany)
• Mercator Research Institute on Global Commons and Climate Change (MCC) (Germany)

Associated Partners

• Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (EMPA) (Switzerland)
• University of Oxford (UOXF) (UK)

Explore and Learn

Explore the research

Access CircEUlar’s scientific evidence across mobility, buildings, consumption and digitalization.

Access the CircEUlar Scenario Explorer

This explorer hosts scenario data developed by the CircEUlar consortium.

Browse the resources

Access the project’s public deliverables and other public reports.

Discover the key findings

Access the Zenodo Community to explore the open-source resources developed by CircEUlar.

Exploring Circularity Through Science and Art

Within the framework of the Klima Biennale Wien, a unique collaboration between science and art highlighted CircEUlar’s research findings through the lens of artists. Over a four-month period, a distinguished curator, Nora Mayr, facilitated dynamic exchanges between four groups of researchers from CircEUlar with the artists Barbara Kapusta, Borjana Ventzislavova, Julian Palacz, and Imayna Caceres. 

Under the title “Sensing Resonance“, these collaborative efforts between science and art resulted in a series of artworks for communicating climate and scientific knowledge. 

Bringing together the public and stakeholders from culture, science, education, and schools, the event sparked cross-disciplinary dialogue through a combination of good practice examples, workshops, and scientific, practical, and artistic impulses. 

We have collected some inspiring intersections in a video series featuring interviews with artists, curators, and project partners.

Funding acknowledgements

Funded by the European Union under grant agreement No. 101056810. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or HORIZON-RIA - HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.