Dear participants in the Eco-digithon,

To facilitate the mentoring of your projects, we can communicate by using the Message tool within this scenario at any time in both synchronous and asynchronous way, but we can also arrange meetings by using the Video-conference tool.
As a facilitator and mentor, I am available for any kind of mentoring request on my part. I would prefer written communication and any collection of topics. However, I am also available for online meetings if required and subject to availability.

Hope to hearing from you soon!

As many of you may already know Precious Plastic initiative provides open-source designs for machines that grind, melt, and inject recycled plastic such as PP (plastic type 5) or PS (plastic type 6) mainly, allowing for the creation of new products from recycled plastic! [you can also search there for alternatives for other plastic types but there are not many]
See here: https://www.preciousplastic.com/solutions/machines/overview

Polyformer is another open-source project that aims at help solving world’s plastic waste problem. It is a 3D printed machine that turns plastic bottles which are made from PET (plastic type 1) into filaments for 3D printers. Check the PolyCutter before!
See videos here: https://www.youtube.com/@reitencheng4878
See more info here: https://www.reiten.design/polyformer

Check also the PET2print project!
See here: https://www.instructables.com/Turn-PET-Bottles-Into-3D-Printer-Filament/

Or the recycling PET plastic to filament project!
See here: https://www.instructables.com/Recycling-PET-Plastic-to-Filament/

Check out the amazing work of a group of students reported here: Prototype Pultrusion of Recycled Polyethylene Terephthalate Plastic Bottles into Filament for 3D Eco-Printing: Education for a Sustainable Development Project (2024)
See here: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/19/8347
(ps: by reading it carefully you’ll find the Reciclator3D projects’ website (ES) and the machine drawings!)

Get inspired!

This OER links to training materials produced by the Erasmus+ Circle 2 Project – CIRCular Economy through Integrated LEarning in VET.

These consist of Interactive Training materials using the H5P open-source plugin, designed to help VET educators teach circular economy principles and their practical applications in real-world settings.
Several sectors are currently employing a wide range of people with differing skills and the circular economy is an opportunity for students and vocational educators to put sustainability and the circular economy at the heart of what they do.

Every sector can define new ways of operating that involves less waste, reduces carbon impact and is more energy efficient and materials are provided for:
The Tourism Sector – as currently the tourism industry across Europe is a major employment sector.
The Transport Sector – playing a critical role in facilitating economic growth, promoting regional integration, and connecting people and goods across the continent. It encompasses various modes of transportation, including road, rail, air, and maritime, each contributing to the overall transport network.
The Agriculture Sector – as in Europe agriculure and the concept of the circular economy are closely intertwined as efforts are being made to promote sustainable practices, reduce waste, and maximize resource efficiency.

Go to OER: https://circle2learning.eu/training/

For efficient use of water it is important also to detect losses!
Water pipe’s leakages happen everywhere with many distribution authorities struggling to detect the location of the fault.
Check out some IoT based solutions for inspiration!
– Water Leakage Detection System Using Arduino (2022)
https://www.ej-compute.org/index.php/compute/article/download/43/15/

– IoT Water Supply Chain Management System using Arduino and NodeMCU (2022)
https://circuitdigest.com/microcontroller-projects/iot-based-water-management-system-using-arduinoIoT Water Supply Chain Management System using Arduino and NodeMCUcircuitdigest.com

Get inspired!

This is article from 2018 that illustrates an interesting circular economy approach!

When conceiving devices, one possible approach for <eco-design> is to consider the use of electronic scrap!
Check in this article not only the context but possible sources of components, challenges… – get inspired!

Go to OER on documents section or here: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405896318328593

A ppt in EN was added in the documents that you can use for driving a classroom activity for driving results oriented thinking with a practical example around waste separation.

You can access in other languages here: https://www.wasteheroeducation.com/#lesson-library (chose Level 6)

In this booklet you can find many information in an easy and accessible format regarding Nature based Solutions (NbS) , that is the common name for describing interventions that can simultaneously contribute to the sustainable conservation and restoration of ecosystems and biodiversity, and to the sustainable management of a range of social problems and to the creation of new economic opportunities!

NbS include, among others, water conservation solutions such as green roofs and rain gardens!

The booklet provides more information about this definition, along with several examples of NbS for towns and cities, NbS in agriculture among many other! You will also find success criteria for the use of NbS!

Discover this concept and innovate!

Go to OER https://next.huskroua-cbc.eu/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Nature_based_Solutions-ENG.pdf

Just like in real life we need a map , in our projects, business and ideas we should also have one!

The Circular Business Model Canvas developed by Circulab can help everyone to perform system thinking for a project by looking at the value creation through social and environmental impacts (besides an economic point of view), and easily identify new opportunities and key points to watch !

It’s available in several languages , namely in English, Spanish, Italian and German.
You can download it for free, and you get a zip file with all languages.

The tutorial is paid, but I can share here some tips, or even prepare a 30’ session for synchronous presentation of this tool! If you’re interested reply to this post !

Go to OER: https://circulab.academy/circular-economy-tools/circular-canvas-business-models/

There is also a free online course with an introduction to the Circular Economy there (MooC, 7 days available only) at the Circulab academy (English). Discover more here: https://circulab.academy/courses/training-activate-circular-economy/

This is an online data base of practical approaches and solutions based on the circular economy principles !

You can see them by topic, for example the Food case studies, or the Plastic case studies , but if you go down the page you can click view all case studies and apply the filters you want !

The Ellen MacArthur Foundation is a true beacon in the topic of Circular Economy and a must-know source of relevant information !

They are a non-profit organisation that creates evidence-based original research on the benefits of a circular economy and how it can contribute to solving global challenges, highlighting examples of how circular economy principles are being put into practice today. They also support organisations and individuals with formal learning opportunities through our circular economy courses, and create resources for teachers and academics.

Go to OER https://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/topics/circular-economy-introduction/examples

OER Nine water scarcity solutions — and why they work is a short story from an international humanitarian organisation that helps us look beyond our own backyards and remember the basics!

It was chosen to expose teams to existing solutions. Not digital solutions, it’s true, but that can make sense!

Many of the projects participating in the Eco-Digithon 2025 edition focus on water efficiency through the use of digital solutions, but it’s important to keep an open mind about the water source to be used in the project and consider that the solution uptake may depend upon it’s integration !

Perhaps it’s not too difficult to incorporate the collection and use of rainwater in your projects. Or even the use of transported water, or the reuse of water from other uses by means of a simple treatment that avoids health risks!

Go to OER https://www.concern.net/news/water-scarcity-solutions-that-work

• This topic was modified 1 year ago by RitaBarrosSilva.