Creative Circular Cities (CCC): when creativity meets the circular economy
It is hard to believe that three years have already passed!
We met in Kiel (Germany) on September 29-30, 2026 to wrap up the Creative Circular Cities project and showcase how creativity can support cities in their transition towards a circular economy. It was about changing the way we think about waste: instead of treating it as something to get rid of, we should see it as a resource that can be reused, repurposed and kept in circulation.
And, true to the project’s name, the conference itself was highly creative.
Old ties replaced traditional conference lanyards, the catering was prepared using surplus food, and participants took part in workshops where they created new objects from plastic waste found on the beach. These examples showed that circularity does not have to mean giving up on creativity or convenience – quite the opposite. It can be an opportunity to rethink everyday solutions and create something new from what we already have.
Change starts with people – but needs the right system.
One of the key conclusions of the project is clear: city residents are ready to change the way they consume, use and dispose of resources. What is needed now is systemic change that makes such choices easier and more accessible.
To achieve this, all relevant partners need to be involved – and the creative sector has a particularly important role to play. Creative professionals look at the world from unconventional perspectives. They can see potential and new possibilities where others may see nothing more than waste.
During the conference, partners also presented tools and solutions designed to help other cities benefit from the experience gained by six cities across the Baltic Sea Region, including Gdynia.
The Creative Circular Cities project may be coming to an end, but the cooperation, ideas and solutions developed through it will continue to grow and inspire further action towards more circular and creative cities.
