CARE

CARE aims to empower consumer-citizens in European households in the transition to a circular economy (CE). The objective of CARE is to transform a total of 100 households in five European countries (Finland, Norway, Sweden, Germany, and Estonia) to circular model households. To achieve its aim, CARE will further develop, test and validate two pilots related to two critical material flows: food and clothing. They both have high potential for circularity at the household level. The CARE pilots will be implemented in five regions - both urban and rural - that are part of the Circular Cities and Regions Initiative (CCRI): Tampere, Asker, Gothenburg, Berlin, and Lääne-Harju. The pilots are based on the practice-theoretical approach, which goes beyond state-of-the-art by focusing on holistic, social and material aspects of everyday life instead of individualistic and awareness-raising interventions. The pilots will contain both customized, inclusive, and cost-free circular advisory services as well as food and clothing related interventions that target changes in consumption practices. Impact assessment is a key part of the project that includes improvement in material efficiency, living conditions, and sustainable wellbeing. The effectiveness of the pilots for reducing environmental impacts will be calculated using life cycle assessment, especially the Product Environmental Footprint method. CARE will make a strong contribution towards accelerating fair, inclusive and sustainable consumer-based transition to CE. This is achieved by involving consumer-citizens, non-governmental and civil society organizations, municipalities, researchers, and CCRI regions in a transdisciplinary approach, based on co-design and co-learning. Furthermore, CARE will ensure the replicability and multiplication of its results through easy-to-use communication and dissemination tools, in collaboration with CCRI and other European circular economy initiatives.