Advancing Circular Construction: CURE+ Project Concludes Successfully

Establishing the Baseline: Understanding CDW Practices
A fundamental step in the project was conducting a comprehensive assessment of CDW management in each of the four participating municipalities. This resulted in the production of Baseline Reports, mapping out the current practices, identifying challenges, and highlighting opportunities for circularity in CDW flows. These reports served as the foundation for targeted interventions, enabling partners to develop tailored solutions that best fit the local contexts.

Learning from Best Practices: Study Visits and Webinars
To build on existing expertise, project partners embarked on study visits to some of Europe’s most advanced urban resource centres. These visits provided first-hand insights into how different cities successfully manage and repurpose CDW. Learning from these best practices, the project organised three stakeholder webinars, offering a platform for knowledge exchange and discussions on circular construction approaches. Additionally, findings from these visits and discussions contributed to a scientific article, further advancing research and policy dialogue in the field.

Piloting Urban Resource Centres: Transforming Theory into Practice
One of the most significant achievements of CURE+ has been the creation of pilot URCs in each of the four partner cities. These pilots demonstrate how CDW can be managed effectively through local reuse and upcycling solutions. The journey of establishing these centres has been meticulously documented in case study reports for each municipality, showcasing the development process, operational models, and lessons learned. Each pilot URC addresses unique urban challenges while promoting circularity in the construction sector:

• Riga: Sadarbnīca URC focuses on community-driven wooden resource reuse and educational initiatives. (see Riga Case Study Report)
• Kavala: Being a pioneering initiative in the region, the Kavala URC integrates CDW upcycling into local construction and renovation projects, offering citizens the opportunity to adopt practices of reuse and waste reduction. (see Kavala Case Study Report)
• Tartu: A hands-on approach to material repurposing by creating material storage hall. (see Tartu Case Study Report)
• Barcelona: Creating the Elisava Material Depot to improve material management within Elisava, Faculty of Design and Engineering of Barcelona, by providing a solution for on-site reuse. (see Barcelona Case Study Report)
  

Shaping Policy for a Circular Future
The project’s final conference, held on March 18, 2025, in Kavala, Greece, was a milestone event. Bringing policymakers, experts, and stakeholders, the online conference introduced to a wider audience the policy recommendations developed throughout the project (see Policy Recommendations, Part A and Part B). These recommendations provide actionable insights for national and regional governments to integrate circular economy principles into CDW management. By tailoring strategies to specific municipal contexts, the project has laid the groundwork for long-term sustainability in the built environment.

Find the summary presentation of the project final conference here.
You can watch recording of the conference here.

Towards a Resource-Efficient Society
The outcomes of the CURE+ project go beyond theoretical research and pilot initiatives. They equip cities with the knowledge and tools to apply circular economy practices adapted to their specific needs, fostering a more sustainable and resource-efficient society. By demonstrating real-life applications of circular construction principles, CURE+ has not only contributed to reducing waste but has also set a precedent for future initiatives striving to close material loops in urban environments. As we look forward, the insights and methodologies developed in the CURE+ project will continue to serve as a valuable reference for cities and communities embracing circularity in construction.

Riga Energy Agency is implementing the project CURE+ in cooperation with the Tartu City Government, Municipality of Kavala, Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences and Elisava Barcelona School of Engineering and Design. The project aims to improve the management of construction and demolition waste generated by households through reuse and repair respecting the principles of the circular economy.