EDEN center has finalized, January 2020, the 10 months project  “Bringing circular economy out of shade – a brand attitude for active society”. The project aimed in Increasing the understanding and critical thinking on circular economy through practical approaches of models in cities daily life.
Several activities were implemented for achieving the aim of this project. A two days workshop (June 2019) on the topic of circular economy. The workshop was attended by NGOs and business (around 35 participants). The main result of this workshop was the development of 4 main ideas based on the concept of circular economy, and the best one was selected to be implemented by local NGOs in Shkodra and Berat .

The local actions “The youth and the circular economy”, were a success for the project and the local organizations and the participants were enthusiastic on the topic and the possibility given for being integrated in this topic. In local level were organized sessions for informing the youth on the topic on circular economy, were given the first tips on how it can be possible, that as well the young can create parts of circular economy and at the end concrete products were created with unused material. The local organization "For Social and Environmental Welfare", Berat, "Albanian Alps Alliance", Shkodra, and the local business in Berat “Teuta Design” were the crucial point of these activities , they supported in creating new products based on the old one, so there is no waste, the raw material is secured from the old materials, environment is protecting and development is provided. The action was repeated in Tirana, and an open forum discussion was organized at "Skanderbeg square", were the public was informed and was invited for sharing their attitude for circular economy but taking in consideration the topic of climate change. From the three cities what was perceived both from organizers and participants is: “The topic is very interesting, the people want to know more for the topic, and there is a need for organizing such activities again and replicating them in other cities”.

Circular economy is a new system, in this way after the open lessons for circular economy that EDEN center gave in two faculties in Tirana, Faculty of Natural Resources and Civic engineering, and with EDEN center activists, a group of 20 youngsters was created and they  mapped the business in Tirana that have potential for circular economy. In total 27 businesses were identified and mapped. This makes more clear how it is the development of business for this system, the business were dealing with construction, with textile, with furniture etc. The youngsters to spread more their message created a video "Exploring Circular economy in Tirana", where it is easier to visualize their work in field and the business. The project didn’t stopped here, for strengthening the importance of circular economy topic, the youngsters supported by EDEN center developed a letter with the main results of the mapping of potential of circular economy in Tirana, with suggestion for the Council of Tirana and a meeting with the Youth and Employement Commision within Tirana Municipality was organised on 03.02.2020. The commison expressed its willingness to follow up this letter and to deliver its sugestions at the next Tirana Council meeting. We aim that the stimulus we gave to the municipality can be further continued; municipality can prioritize its work related to circular economy, as it is connected, with sustainable development, human health, protection of environment etc.

We thank all the organizations, the citizens and the bussines involved in this project. Special thanks goes to the youngest that made the video and the mapping in Tirana for the bussines for circular economy.

In the frame of the project “Bringing circular economy out of shade – a brand attitude for active society” through Co-PLAN, Institute for Habitat Development, in the frame of the project En.Net financially supported from the European Union