REFLOW

The H2020 project REFLOW sets out to offer a new approach to circular economy in urban areas. Currently, our urban environments follow a process characterized by a linear product in/waste out model. Such a traditional configuration leads cities to consume more than they produce and, consequently, creates an unsustainable amount of waste. In circular and regenerative cities, waste becomes a resource that helps building wealth rather than reducing it. Active citizen involvement and systemic change are needed to re-design products, re-locate production, and re-think urban spaces, which in turn will enact this new form of managing resources.

To ensure that circular economy principles are anchored in citizens’ vision and expectations, the project has as active partners six pilot cities: Amsterdam, Berlin, Cluj-Napoca, Milan, Paris, and Vejle. In each of the six pilot cities, there are maker spaces where citizens can prototype, develop, and test circular products, software, and business models for their cities. It is the ambition of REFLOW that its results can offer guidelines and tools that other cities can adopt in their transition to becoming circular and regenerative.

REFLOW brings together 28 partners from 10 European countries. REFLOW combines the competencies and approaches of very different partners, including universities, grassroots organizations, municipalities, research institutions, designers, and developers.