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sustainable built environment

: Published: 18 August 2016

The LCA4Regions project – Improved Environment and Resource Efficiency through use of Life Cycle Instruments for implementation of regional policies of the European Union – endeavored to enhance the effectiveness of environmental policies through the adoption of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodologies. The project aimed to integrate this typical business-related expertise into public policy implementation, in order to boost more efficient use of natural resources.

Project funded under the European Regional Development Fund of the European Union, 2019 - 2023

Highlights

LCA4Regions project partners gathered in Brussels to present their work and take stock of the situation regarding the use of life cycle analysis (LCA) in both policy planning and implementation, taking as an example the sustainable built environment. The discussions concluded that applying LCA to local policy making requires taking simplified steps, one of which is to find a common language between public authorities, research centres, and business sector.

THE PROJECT

THE PROJECT

LCA4Regions started from a common challenge faced by participating regions: how to better implement public policies to obtain a greater degree of concordance with stated sustainability objectives, fewer unwanted spill-over effects, and better transparency in the compromises and offsets that needed to be made to move ahead on sustainable economic targets. Project partners saw the application of Life Cycle Methodologies as a solution to improving the implementation of environmental policy instruments on their territories. During four years, project partners worked on expanding the use of this method to governmental authorities when conceiving and implementing public policies related to environmental protection and resource efficiency.

It was expected that the project would contribute to:

Improving policy instruments by introducing LCA in all steps of the policy management cycle;
Enlarging the circle of end-users that would benefit from making conscious decisions on resource efficiency and investments using LCA.

LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT

LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT

LCA is a technique to assess environmental impacts associated with all the stages of a product's life from raw material extraction through materials processing, manufacture, distribution, use, repair and maintenance, and disposal or recycling. This involves a broad examination of the life of the product - a holistic approach.

LCA methodologies are already widely used in the business sector to identify impacts along the life chain of products and materials and to avoid deleterious side effects.

The application of LCA to environmental policies could generate better results in terms of reduction of waste and material flows and pollution that could be considered as the main challenges of the EU regions for the next ERDF programming period.

ACTIVITIES

ACTIVITIES

During a first phase (lasting 5 semesters), dedicated to exchanges and learning, expertise was shared, good practices were identified, and a policy road map was established with the aim of elaborating Action Plans to improve policy instruments in the 7 represented territories (Kaunas, Navarra, Lombardy, Lodzkie, Pyhäjärvi, Baixo Alentejo intermunicipal community, and Ljubljana).

These activities were intended to clarify the success factors and barriers for the application of life-cycle management approaches for policy implementation. This first phase was based on thematic workshops (Transnational Learning Journeys – TLJ), during which the following areas of interest were analysed:

Implementation of LCA in environmental and resource efficiency policies
LCA for resource efficiency
LCA in waste and material flows
LCA in public procurements
Training and capacity building in LCA
LCA in monitoring and evaluation

During the second phase of the project (2 semesters), the 7 Actions Plans were implemented and evaluated.

ACR+ ROLE

ACR+ ROLE

As advisory partner ACR+ brought to the project its extensive expertise in the subject of circular economy and in activities aimed to increase the capacity of partners and enable the learning of public authorities and stakeholders, with the view of a better implementation of Structural Funds.

ACR+ also provided technical guidance to support the baseline situation analysis and guidance for local Action Plans, coordinated the gathering and benchmarking of good practices, facilitated peer working between partners, and managed the expert committee made of non-local stakeholders.

Last but not least, ACR+ contributed to the development of the Policy Road Map and was in charge of the international dissemination of the project results.

PARTNERS INVOLVED

PARTNERS INVOLVED

LCA4Regions' project leader was the Government of Navarra (ES)* and its project partners were:

ACR+, Association of Cities and Regions for Sustainable Resource Management (BE)
AIN, Industrial Association of Navarra (ES)
UKT, Kaunas University of Technology (LT)
Pyhäjärvi Institute (FI)

CIMBAL, Baixo Alentejo Intermunicipal Community (PT)
NIC, National Institute of Chemistry (SI)
Lombardy Region (IT)
Lodzkie Region (PL)

*ACR+ member

: Published: 18 August 2016

The EURE project – Effectiveness of Environmental Urban policies to improve Resources Efficiency – proposed the exchange of experience among local authorities as methodology to evaluate the different ways to articulate the 5% of their European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) to support integrated sustainable urban development.

Project funded under the European Regional Development Fund of the European Union, 2019 - 2023

Highlights
The EURE project has been working to improve the participation of small, medium and peripheral cities in the definition and more effective implementation of European Urban Policy. On 22 and 23 March 2023, EURE partners and stakeholders came together for a final congress in Alba Iulia, Romania, to review the effectiveness of environmental urban policies to improve resource efficiency.

THE PROJECT

THE PROJECT

The Europe 2020 strategy recognizes that urban areas are the main resources consumers and the main responsible for the urban environment quality. The project aimed to improve the regional development policies in order to increase resource-efficiency, green growth, eco-innovation and environmental performance management of the urban areas. The EURE project’s objective was to improve the way the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) Regulation addresses the environmental urban challenges of cities, paying also attention to those cities of small dimension but with influence in the sparsely populated areas where they are located. The final aim was:

to support European urban areas in being more resource-efficient
to include, as transversal priority of the integrated urban policies, the principles of circular economy, and
to assure a proper environmental performance management at urban level.

ACTIVITIES

ACTIVITIES

As Advisory partner, ACR+’s role in the project was two-fold. On the one hand, ACR+ supported the baseline situation analysis on urban environmental policies, gathering and benchmarking of good practices. Furthermore, ACR+ supported the design of local action plans, facilitating capacity building activities and peer working between partners and the project’s pool of experts.

On the other hand, ACR+ supervised the project’s communication activities, in particular managing the website and publishing newsletters and press releases, to ensure visibility, engagement and networking.

PARTNERS INVOLVED

PARTNERS INVOLVED

EURE’s lead partner was Eixo, Atlantic Axis of Peninsular Northwest (ES)*. The other partners were:

ACR+, Association of Cities and Regions for sustainable Resource management (BE)
ASEV, Agency for the Development of the Empolese Valdelsa (IT)
Municipality of Alba Iulia (RO)
Lubelskie Voivodeship (PL)

UKEP, Department of coordination of European projects of the Pilsen City (CZ)
ANEL, Nicosia Development Agency (CY)
Conference of Atlantic Arc Cities (FR)
Riga City Council (LT)

*ACR+ members

: Published: 18 August 2016

The INERTWASTE project will ensure quality management of inert and inorganic waste and promote circularity of resources for construction and industrial processes.

Project funded under the European Regional Development Fund of the European Union, 2021- 2027

Highlights

The first good practice of INERTWASTE is out! The practice addresses challenges in the waste valorisation process under the former law in Spain, characterized by a long and bureaucratic decision procedure managed by the central government. Have a look at the Good Practice here!

THE PROJECT

THE PROJECT

INERTWASTE stands for the Valorisation of inert and inorganic industry and construction waste. The project will ensure quality management of inert and inorganic waste and promote circularity of resources for construction and industrial processes. Inert waste from industrial processes and the construction sector is particularly difficult to manage. Currently, it is generally sent to landfills and/or transported long distances for recovery. INERTWASTE will focus on the valorisation of this type of waste, aiming to extend the life cycle of these resources. INERTWASTE will contribute to a more effective implementation of environmental policy instruments through the exchange of European regional experiences and the discussion of ideas for resolving current policy challenges.

ACTIVITIES

ACTIVITIES

INERTWASTE exchange and mutual learning process is based on the methodology of the 'Transnational Learning Journeys' (TLJ). This methodology is adapted to the specific context of INERTWASTE management policies, which requires the direct involvement of public and private actors in the development and implementation of local and regional policy improvements.

The TLJs will bring together partners and stakeholders to share challenges, opportunities and good practices on one specific theme with the aim of improving partners’ regional policy instruments. A TLJ includes regional Peer-review Workshops; Sustainability Jam session; study visits.

2nd semester, Navarra Region - Regulatory frameworks for sustainable inert waste management;
3rdSemester, Podravje Region - Societal, technology and market challenges for sustainable management of inert waste from industrial and construction processes;
4th Semester, Region SUD - How to promote and support the integration of the circular economy in construction contracts for a better management of construction waste? The role of the waste prevention and management planning authority
5th Semester, Zealand Region - Local public authority and policies as driver for green transition in industrial and construction sector and future skills and knowledge

In addition, partners will develop a guide with the good practices that they have identified as well as a policy report.

ACR+ ROLE

ACR+ ROLE

Within this project, ACR+ will primarily hold the role of knowledge exchange facilitator, mainly by liaising between the project partners and other public authorities across Europe deemed as forerunners in inert waste valorization. Furthermore, ACR+ will assist project partners in identifying the hotspots, practices and procedures with the greatest potential for achieving waste minimization and thus reaching the project’s objectives. When and if necessary, ACR+ will therefore moderate and facilitate the discussions between the public authorities and other stakeholders involved in the value chain.
In parallel to its role facilitator’s role, ACR+ will also coordinate project dissemination activities, create dissemination tools and templates to facilitate partners work and directly implement dissemination and capitalization actions at EU/ international level, as well as targeting its network members.

PARTNERS INVOLVED

More information:

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: Published: 18 August 2016

The SMART WASTE project – Innovation in Waste Management Policies – aimed at improving public policy instruments supporting innovation within waste management procedures, both in terms of new approaches and new technologies. The project looked at both new approaches and at new technologies applied in reusing, in reducing, recycling, and recovering the waste.

Project funded under the European Regional Development Fund of the European Union, 2019 - 2023

Highlight
The SMART WASTE Final Conference took place in Sofia to showcase the efforts made by the project’s cities and regions to improve their waste management practices and strategies. One key result is 13 Good Practices which contributed to the INTERREG policy learning platform and in continuous capacity building and learning of the project partners involved.

WHY SMART WASTE?

WHY SMART WASTE?

Local, regional, and national authorities are working hard to manage in an always more sustainable way their waste and implement a comprehensive and circular approach. They consider new approaches and technologies to reduce, reuse, recycle, and recover waste. They attempt to fit these into a comprehensive and circular approach.

But what are the results of their actions? Are these measures having a concrete impact? Could their implementation be more effective? The SMART WASTE project was born to answer these questions.

THE PROJECT

THE PROJECT

The SMART WASTE project aimed at improving public policy instruments supporting innovation within waste management procedures, both in terms of new approaches and new technologies. The project looked at approaches applied in reducing, reusing, recycling, and recovering waste. It looked at how regional policies had applied approaches that emerged over recent years, such as the circular economy concept. It also looked at investments in innovative technologies to support these approaches. It looked at what new technologies had been tested and applied, thanks to public funding sources, and what impact they had had.

ACTIVITIES

ACTIVITIES

SMART WASTE was divided into two phases. In the first phase of the project, regional project partners evaluated innovation in their waste management policies and identified Good Practices and failures through interregional exchange events. Partners then developed a two-part Action Plan with short and long-term measures to improve their policies. During the second phase of the project, they implemented their Action Plan and finally showed their results during a high-level political event.

ACR+ was the Advisory Partner, helping to consolidate the project knowledge base and supporting the interregional exchanges. In its advisory role, ACR+ provided thematic input by bringing in external best practices and experts to the different events. In addition, ACR+ coordinated communication activities to ensure consistent and efficient dissemination of the project and the programme.

PARTNERS INVOLVED

PARTNERS INVOLVED

The coordinator of the SMART WASTE project was ARRR*, Resources Recovery Regional Agency of the Tuscany Region (IT), and its project partners were:

ACR+, Association of Cities and Regions for Sustainable Resource Management (BE)
BAMEE, Bulgarian Association of Municipal Environmental Experts (BG)
KRATC, Klaipeda Regional Waste Management Centre (LT)
Municipality of Apeldoorn (NL)
Municipality of Kolding (DK)

*ACR+ member

: Published: 18 August 2016

Mastery logo The MASTERY project will identify, develop, and assess innovative policy approaches to ensure micro-credentials in all Europe.

Project funded under the Erasmus+ programme of the European Union, 2024- 2026

THE PROJECT

THE PROJECT

Driving the dual transition paradigm, combined with demographic dynamics in Europe, urgers a re-thinking of the VET system to adjust current job and skill profiles to new frameworks.
Being short-term, small educational pieces, micro-credentials deliver targeted learning and flexibility while at the same time assessment of learning outcomes and certification of knowledge at the end of the process.

Despite the obvious benefits from introducing micro-credentials, there are still many open questions for their implementation in Europe. The identification, development, testing and assessment of innovative policy approaches needed for ensuring micro-credentials in all Europe. To support this process, MASTERY will focus on the following objectives:

To develop micro-credentials approached for improving long life learning options in industry;
To pilot actions for testing solutions on the ground;
To produce policy recommendations for transnational application micro-credentials, thus ensuring portability and flexibility.

SECTORS AND GREEN SKILLS

ACR+ ROLE

ACR+ ROLE

The role of ACR+ regarding an increased impact of green micro-credential will be to make links between the know-how and needs of the public, private and VET structural and functional systems, enhance their mutual interest, and help them collaborating to develop common policies on activating the micro-credentials in green skills which are crucial to competitiveness in Europe.
ACR+ will play a prominent role in developing stakeholders’ consultations with the different aims of elaborating a joint multi-stakeholder policy on the different phases of design, delivery, certification and portability of MCs and consolidating the results by activating start-ups working group at local, regional, national and EU level, engaged in the grounding of policy recommendations.
ACR+ will also support activities linked to collecting data from the PAs, the dissemination and exploitation of quality and impact criteria of MCs.

PARTNERS INVOLVED

PARTNERS INVOLVED

MASTERY project leader is SFC - Sistemi Formativi Confindustria (IT)* and its project partners are:

ACR+, Association of Cities and Regions for Sustainable Resource Management (BE)
Scuola Superiore Di Studi Universitari E Di Perfezionamento S Anna (IT)*
Cleantech Bulgaria (BG)
Konfederatsia na rabotodatelite I industrialtsite v Bulgaria - krib Glasat na balgarskia biznes (BG)
CETEM - Asociacion Empresarial de Investigacion Centro Tecnologico del Mueble y La Madera de la Region de Murcia (ES)
Agrupacion Empresarial Innovadora de Fabricantes de Muebles y Afines de la Region de Murcia (ES)
Pyhajarvi-Instituuttisaatio Stiftelsen (FI)

*ACR+ members

More information:

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ACR+

ACR+ News

LCA4Regions

Highlights

THE PROJECT

LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT

ACTIVITIES

ACR+ ROLE

PARTNERS INVOLVED

EURE

Highlights

THE PROJECT

ACTIVITIES

PARTNERS INVOLVED

INERTWASTE

Highlights

THE PROJECT

ACTIVITIES

ACR+ ROLE

PARTNERS INVOLVED

SMART WASTE

Highlight

WHY SMART WASTE?

THE PROJECT

ACTIVITIES

PARTNERS INVOLVED

MASTERY

THE PROJECT

SECTORS AND GREEN SKILLS

ACR+ ROLE

PARTNERS INVOLVED