Cir4Fun Partner SUPSI Drives Regional Circularity with Launch of CES City Circle Ticino

On November 6, 2024, in Lugano, Switzerland, the Cir4Fun project achieved strong engagement as partner SUPSI (University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland) organized the launch of the Circular Economy Switzerland (CES) City Circle Ticino, being co-lead of this initiative. 

The event, held at the Impact Hub Ticino, successfully brought together approximately 50 regional professionals, businesses, and institutional representatives to kick off the Ticino region’s collaborative circular economy movement. 

During the event, we got to know the CES Ticino Team and the main objectives as a community, we discussed why and how the circular economy is a strategic lever for businesses, and we saw concrete application examples. One of these is the SARA SA use case in Cir4Fun, of interest for the community since they are willing to:

• adopt ecodesign guidelines for sustainable production (ESPR) 
• contribute to defining and developing the Digital Product Passport (DPP) for the furniture sector 
• adopt new circular business models such as Furniture as a Service, and set up a return/reverse logistics chain to remanufacture the furniture sold. 

SUPSI’s participation is key to the project’s strategy of ensuring its digital and design solutions are adopted in practice. The discussions focused on identifying strategic opportunities and operational directions for developing the local network. 

This engagement was important for two main reasons: 

1. Dissemination: It allows the project to immediately share Cir4Fun’s findings on the Digital Product Passport (DPP) and sustainable procurement with regional stakeholders, and provide best practices to local communities. 
2. Adoption: It helps gain the necessary local buy-in for the effective implementation of the project’s circular solutions within the furniture value chain.

Building the Future Agenda 

The CES City Circle Ticino will now define its future agenda based on community input, focusing on the most impactful themes and formats (workshops, groups, presentations). Cir4Fun, through SUPSI, is committed to leveraging this initiative to contribute its expertise and help accelerate the adoption of systemic circular models across the region.