As a four-year project focused on circular economy principles, this milestone meeting provided an opportunity to reflect on progress, address challenges, and plan the next steps. The event brought partners together to discuss project achievements, exchange ideas, and review initial results.
The meeting began with a warm welcome from the City of Turin and the Danish Technological Institute (DTI), the coordinating institution, which presented the agenda. This was followed by updates on project activities, including:
- Materials innovation presented by the University of Cambridge.
- Circular construction design led by Waugh Thistleton Architects.
- Digitalization advancements by the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences.
- Sustainability analysis conducted by Fundació ENT.
The second day featured interactive sessions and workshops, focusing on:
- Documentation and demonstration activities by DTI.
- Business development and exploitation strategies, led by Easyscience.
- Activation and deployment frameworks by Urbasofia.
- Communication and dissemination efforts facilitated by ICONS.
A standout moment of the meeting was the visit to Iren’s Circular Wood facility, where pallets and pallet blocks are manufactured from wood collected through waste recovery, helping to save approximately 115,000 trees annually. The consortium observed the entire production process, from wood shredding to the creation of finished products. These recycled wood materials first served as raw materials for an art installation at the PARATISSIMA fair and were later repurposed into benches and a library for a nursery home, which the consortium also had the chance to visit.
This productive gathering reinforced the consortium’s commitment to driving sustainable innovation and maximizing the long-term impact of Woodcircles.
