»Working together for a green, competitive and inclusive Europe«

PRESS CONFERENCE (Municipality Ptuj, 29.9.2022):
First demonstration center of the circular economy in Slovenia and presentation of the project studioKroG

PUBLIC STATEMENT

The project consortium studioKroG presented the pilot project "Studio of the Circular Economy", which will be the first demonstration center of the circular economy in Slovenia, built with comprehensive approach to reuse used shipping containers. Its exterior and interior will be equipped with a "use only what already exists" method (reuse and design of waste, industrial symbiosis), i. e. without using anything new in order to reduce the consumption of natural resources. Resource and energy use are constantly increasing, and technological progress in society has failed to reduce the environmental impact of consumption. A successful transition to a low-carbon circular economy requires breaking the link between economic growth and growth using virgin resources. This will not be possible without a radical change in consumption habits, better use of resources, waste prevention, etc.

Panelists:

• Klavdija Rižnar, ZRS Bistra Ptuj, (Projet Leader)
• Štefan Čelan, Director of ZRS Bistra Ptuj
• Marinka Vovk, Director of CPU (Investment Leader of demo studioKroG)
• Bojan Pirš, Director of OKP Rogaška Slatina (Waste management operator with circular approach)
• Polona Kukovec Lakota, MSc, RRC Ormož (Communications Leader)

The project aims to create a new "competition" in society on how to live and create with the least possible use of (virgin) resources. The project also aims to increase the understanding of the circular economy through a pilot display of reuse and eco-design of waste and industrial symbiosis in the creation of a demo "Studio of Circular Economy - studioKroG". Thus, studioKroG will serve as a motivator and experiential demonstration of the resource cycle possibilities (the transformation of waste into functional use) for different target groups through the organization of workshops, training and education sessions, competitions, demo views, etc. At the same time, we will work with Norway to create new opportunities at the national level to systemize a circular economy approach to resource use in all sectors.

The investment of the Circular Economy Demonstration Centre studioKroG also establishes cross-sectoral cooperation between different stakeholders (public/private, (social) entrepreneurship and public enterprises, educational institutions, NGOs, public) at the local/national level, enabling circular business models by transforming waste into usable, non-virgin materials.

The project thus opens up new opportunities for a wide range of target groups: local communities, construction companies, other SMEs, architects, and designers, waste management and circular economy organizations, educational institutions, NGOs, etc. for circularity in practice, and for decision-makers at national level on the systemic regulation of the circular resource use.

Last week the project consortium also took part in a study visiting Norway, where they learned about practical examples of community mobilization for the circular economy, examples of cooperation between re-use centers and local authorities, the installation of mobile buildings made of (used) shipping containers for student residences and tourism purposes, and a tour of a complete refurbishment of a university with 100% second-hand furniture, an example of a shop offering reused mobile phones, which are in high demand on the market (2-3 year old models), as they are aware that the environment pays the biggest price in the whole consumer chain.

Re-use as part of the circular economy is a way of life in Norway since 1970. We have thus reaffirmed that the "StudioKroG" project addresses the high-level objectives of understanding circular resource use in practice, where waste design and resource creativity are very important in order to reduce pollution and tackle climate change.

The project "Studio of Circular Economy - studioKroG" is co-funded by Norway through the Norwegian Financial Mechanism in the amount of EUR 776. 975,00. The duration of the project is from 1. 5. 2022 to 30. 4. 2022.

The installation of the studio of circular economy will be carried out in four phases (see annex for details). We will also keep you, dear media representatives, informed so that you can learn more about the circular economy demo center studioKroG (at two locations: in Slovenske Konjice and Rogaška Slatina), which will be built and operated according to the principle of the circular economy: 'don't throw it away, repair it, reuse it' and 'waste design'.

Project Flyer: Studio of Circular Economy - studioKroG2.48 MB

dr. Klavdija Rižnar, Project Leader
ZRS BISTRA PTUJ