CirculaR Economy strategy FRAMEwork for sustainable SMEs

TOPIC:

Initiative

CirculaR Economy strategy FRAMEwork for sustainable SMEs - REFRAME

SUBMITTED FROM:

The Laboratory of Mining Technology and Environmental Mining (E.M.T.P.M.) of the School of Mining Engineering - Metallurgical Engineering of the E.M.P., was officially founded in 1983, initially under the name of Laboratory of Mining Technology.

The main objectives of E.M.T.P.M. are the following:

The training of the undergraduate and postgraduate students of the School of Mining Engineering - Metallurgical Engineering, in the assessment, evaluation and solution of modern problems of the mining - technical sector and society, using means and methods of cutting edge technology.
Finding solutions to the critical issues of mining activity, with the aim of achieving a development path, which will be based, at the same time, on the foundations of technological innovation, the optimal exploitation of the country's mineral wealth, sound environmental management and social consensus.
Addressing key problems of Greek society (lack of space in urban centers, competitive uses of the environment, etc.), through the birth and implementation of pioneering ideas, with the help of mining science and aiming at upgrading the quality of life of citizens.

Objective Action

The REFRAME project, which is funded under the Action KA2 of the Erasmus+ Programme (Contract No: 2020-1-EL01-KA202-078870), aims to create a transitional Circular Economy (CE) framework for construction, manufacturing and craft SMEs. This framework will provide practical knowledge for both SMEs and their employees to implement the principles of CE.

Target Audience

Main target-groups:
a) Construction, crafts and manufacturing SMEs’ owners/managers/personnel with up to 100 employees & micro-enterprises
b) Employees (current or future) of manufacturing SMEs (Unskilled, Adept, Skilled)
c) VET centres/trainers/consultants
d) experts that support companies with CE processes (internally or externally)
Other target-groups (secondary):
e) manufacturing SMEs associations, non-profit environmental organisations’ members
f) university/college students, municipalities and cities

Duration

24 months (1/10/2020 - 30/09/2022)

Description

In recent years, many European companies, especially large ones, have been trying to integrate Circular Economy (CE) strategies and practices into their operations. Compared to large companies, SMEs have less potential and fewer resources to do so, which makes it much more difficult for them to adapt to the new situation. The REFRAME project aims to create a transitional framework for SMEs in construction, manufacturing and craft industries. At the same time, REFRAME will create an online community that will offer advice, disseminate the latest developments and exchange information among participants on how to take certain actions to successfully implement the principles of CE.

The innovation of the REFRAME project is that it will develop a concrete implementation framework and ultimately guide SMEs and micro-enterprises in a step-by-step approach to successfully implement the transition to CE through an in-depth analysis of the existing business context, the risks and opportunities in the transition to CE and the existing business model and how this could be modified to a more circular model.

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Impact on Society

In this phase, the main focus of the dissemination activities was on presenting the project, its aims and objectives, the members of the consortium and the activities carried out. This was done through a wide range of dissemination channels. For instance, it is noted that in the first year, the partners used social media platforms to publish 44 posts about the project, reaching around 3,200 people. Two online articles about the project reached more than 3,500 people, and newsletters reached more than 9,000 people. A radio interview was broadcast at regional level (Hungary) explaining the project, its aims and objectives and the benefits for the target groups, reaching 70,000 people.

Initiative Location

The REFRAME project is implemented by 6 partners from 5 EU countries, Greece, Cyprus, Portugal, Bulgaria and Hungary. Its results, however, are targeted at SMEs and micro-enterprises in the construction, manufacturing and handicraft sectors, as well as their employees, across Europe.

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Working with Organization

The project is coordinated by the Laboratory of Mining Technology & Environmental Mining of the School of Mining and Metallurgical Engineering at the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA). It is implemented in collaboration with the following partners:

- TOURNIS SYMVOULEYTIKI EE (Greece)

- PCX COMPUTERS & INFORMATION SYSTEMS LTD (Cyprus)

- CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY VRATSA SDRUZHENIE (Bulgaria)

- INSTITUTO DE SOLDADURA E QUALIDADE (Portugal)

- CSONGRAD COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (Hungary)

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Workers Participation

Benefits for Οrganization

Connection with Global Goals

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