EntrepreNeurs for plasticS’ circUlaR Economy Erasmus Project

Project Title

EntrepreNeurs for plasticS’ circUlaR Economy

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Strategic Partnerships for vocational education and training

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2020

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Environment and climate change; Enterprise, industry and SMEs (incl. entrepreneurship); New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses

Project Summary

Since the EU promotes a transition toward a more and more “circular” flow in the economic system, that transition need to be systemic and not limited to specific sectors or geographical area, and must affect each part of the production/recycling chain. The field of plastics industry is one of the largest producer of polluting waste that, at the same time, consists largely of recyclable material that can start a new production process. The EU underlines the beneficial impact of improving the reprocessing of plastics in its strategy on plastics waste and in its general strategy for the promotion of Circular Economy [https://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/circular-economy].

As its main goal ENSURE wants to tackle the “Environmental and climate goals” E+ horizontal priority. In particular the project will foster the development of green sectorial skills and methodologies (focused on the plastics sector) for entrepreneurs and VET trainers as to allow them (in particular for entrepreneurs) to become true change factors towards a more sustainable entrepreneurship.

The project has isolated three main areas of possible improvement toward this objective:
1. Staple skills such as flexibility, capacity to innovate and ability to learn continuously
2. Entrepreneurial skills in recognizing and seizing opportunities in circular economy processes. Special focus on the business cases provided by the Plastic industry.
3. Ability to manage (Resilient Management Skills) the adaptation phase of shifting from the classical model (raw material product – waste) to the new “Circular” model (raw material – product – waste – raw material)

Project idea:
The project aims at bridging the gap of skills related to the creation of new businesses or the reconversion of old ones, in the field of circular economy. The project will identify the most interesting strands in this economic field elaborating different entrepreneurial paths that will be available to business coaches and the trainers will be able to pass on to future entrepreneurs. Then a specific focus will be developed toward the plastics production sector.

General Objective of the project:
To encourage the creation of new startups with a business model based on circular economy. The focus of the project will be on the plastics industry sector.
Specific objective 1
Train the trainers: Producing some collections of best practices and educational materials to teach the business coaches how to lead potential startups into the Circular Economy field, helping them to create and subsequently solidify their business.
Specific objective 2
Improve the awareness of present entrepreneurs and investors on the possibilities offered by circular economy, focusing in particular on those offered by plastics CE.
Specific Objective 3:
Supporting the creation of locally based CE startups, with focus on plastic’s reuse and valorization sector, possibly aligning to local S3.

Moreover the project wants to have an impact on the following target groups:
– Entrepreneurs (age between 18 and 35)
– Entrepreneurial Trainers
– Startup Coaches
– Investors (secondary target)

As to achieve the aforementioned objectives in the best possible way, the following partners have been included in the consortium:
– Chambre de Commerce Italienne de Nice Sophia Antipolis Côte d’Azur, France, Lead Partner;
– FVB S.R.L., Italy;
– COOPERATION BANCAIRE POUR L’EUROPE, Belgium;
– ARGE Abfallvermeidung, Ressourcenschonung und nachhaltige Entwicklung GmbH, Austria;
– Cz&K Consulting Szolgaltato Korlatolt Felelossegu Tarsasag, Hungary;
– Fondazione Edulife ONLUS, Italy;
– Coopérative pour le Développement de l’emploi dans les métiers du patrimoine, France.
Each partner was accurately selected keeping in mind their specific expertise and having as filter the needs of the project.

In its 26 months duration the project wants to develop advanced tools (Intellectual Outputs) to impact positively on target groups, toward the specified objectives:
1 – Circular economy plastics course and library content (IO1)
2 – E-Learning platform. MOOC, Profiling test and interactive Library (IO2)

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 267730 Eur

Project Coordinator

Chambre de Commerce Italienne de Nice Sophia Antipolis Côte d’Azur & Country: FR

Project Partners

• FVB S.R.L
• Coopérative pour le Développement de l’emploi dans les métiers du patrimoine
• COOPERATION BANCAIRE POUR L’EUROPE
• Cz&K Consulting Szolgaltato Korlatolt Felelossegu Tarsasag
• Fondazione Edulife ONLUS
• ARGE Abfallvermeidung, Ressourcenschonung und nachhaltige Entwicklung GmbH