By implementing this project, we wanted to achieve the following: 1) Teaching students to contribute to stimulating circularity in their own networks and communities. 2) To build specialist knowledge feeding into important solutions for the Circular Economy. 3) To establish a significant change in how students approach complex problems.
The world was only 9% circular in resource management according to the Circularity Gap Report of 2022, with 91% of materials used only once before being discarded. This linear model of 'take, make, use, and dispose' led to overuse of resources, habitat destruction, land use change, pollution, and significant climate impacts. This urgency inspired policymakers, businesses, and researchers to pursue a more circular approach. The circular economy (CE) aims to extend the productive use of resources through strategies that combat structural waste. Combining these strategies at various levels fosters business innovation and provides opportunities for young entrepreneurs, positively impacting resources and the climate. Frijters (2016) and Wiek (2011) highlighted the need for system thinking and system innovation to promote circularity. Schools must teach students about these approaches and the challenges of the linear economy, enabling future generations to understand how to create and maximize value. The project's main goal was to promote circular thinking in secondary education, empowering students to learn and apply strategies that increase efficiency, reduce waste, and minimize their ecological footprint.