The Virtual Academy provides resources related to the implementation of Urban Circular Bioeconomy solutions.
This includes handbooks, manuals, factsheets and videos on technologies and financial engineering for circular bio-economy projects.

The EIB Circular Economy Guide

The guide presents how the EIB supports the circular economy through financing, advisory and awareness raising.

Financing, Incentives, Investment

Improving access to finance for circular economy projects

To improve the conditions for financing circular economy projects, the European Commission Expert Group on Circular Economy Financing analysed barriers and identified the main areas where incentives need to be provided.

Financing, Investment

Understanding Open Market Consultation

Open Market Consultation is an important step in the procurement of innovation. This online webinar is tailored specifically for public procurers interested in gaining a comprehensive understanding of what an Open Market Consultation entails.

Financing, Innovation procurement, Investment

Project Development Assistance Webinar | HOOP

In this webinar, HOOP partners share their methodologies, experiences, encountered barriers and learnings on the Project Development Assistance (PDA) for building the technical, economic and legal expertise needed for project development and the launch of concrete investments.

Financing, Valorisation technologies

HOOP financial tools to provide technical assistance for urban circular bioeconomy projects

This paper presents the HOOP financial tools that have been developed to support cities and regions to develop urban bioeconomy projects

Circular business models, Financing, Innovation procurement, Investment

Circular Business Models - Existing and emerging forms of value retention and creation

This Whitepaper presents a series of existing and emerging circular business models (CBMs), divided into three groups that together form a classification. Better design and organisation of a CBM contributes to the transformation and transition towards a sustainable and circular economy.

Circular business models, Circular strategies

Incentives to boost the Circular Economy - A guide for public authorities

This guidance document commissioned by DG RTD aims at supporting public authorities in identifying the most suited incentive or combination of incentives to speed up the transition towards a circular economy at EU, National, Regional or Local level.

Circular business models, Circular strategies, Consumer acceptance, Financing, Incentives, Innovation procurement, Investment

Completing the picture - How the circular economy tackles climate change

This is a republication of a paper first published in 2019 with the same name. It is reprinted now to make the case at COP26 that the circular economy is a crucial element of the global response to climate change.

Circular business models, Circular strategies

Circular Cities Declaration Report 2022

The Circular Cities Declaration has been set up to support cities in their transition from a linear to a circular economy. The Report 2022 analyses the first submissions by 40 cities signatories on their circular activities (2021-2022) including key activities, interventions and challenges.

Behaviour change, Circular business models, Circular strategies, Citizen awareness, Citizen science, Consumer acceptance, Stakeholder engagement

Developing Circular Economy Strategies in Europe - Best practices

This working paper developed by The Joint Assistance to Support Projects in European Regions (JASPERS) builds on the 70+ circular economy strategies developed in Europe as of May 2021. The strategies were analysed in terms of inception, development, and implementation and monitoring:

Circular business models, Circular strategies

VALUEWASTE project’s first insights on new business models in circular economy

This report describes the circular economy Business model creation processes for the three value chains of the VALUEWASTE project.

Behaviour change, Circular business models, Circular strategies, Financing

SCALIBUR Project Biowaste collection strategies

This presentation illustrates the biowaste collection strategies implemented in the SCALIBUR pilot cities Albano Laziale (IT), Lund (SE), Madrid (ES), Kozani (GR) and outlines challenges, solutions, and best practices.

Collection, Pilot projects, Sorting

Policy Briefs to foster water reuse in Europe

This document, produced by the SUWANU project, present four critical domains for a successful implementation of reused water in agriculture: governance, public, financing, risk management. It aims at supporting the adoption of water reuse in an environmentally sustainable farming practice.

Financing, Wastewater

HOOP project_Novel Circular Business Models applied in the value chain of bio-waste valorisation

This report focuses on the identification of Circular Business Models for bio-waste valorisation.

Circular business models, Circular strategies

HOOP project_ Investment Package Manual for European Cities and Regions (Volume III)

The Volume III of the Investment Package Manual presents a selection and inventory of funding and financing schemes, programmes, instruments and tools for investment projects on circular bioeconomy and bioenergy at National and Regional levels.

Circular business models, Financing, Investment, OFMSW, Wastewater

HOOP project_Investment Package Manual for European Cities and Regions (Volume II)

The Volume II of the Investment Package Manual guides the reader through the selection and inventory of funding and financing schemes, programmes, instruments and tools for investment projects on circular bioeconomy and bioenergy at European level.

Financing, Incentives, Legislation, Innovation procurement

HOOP project_Investment Package Manual for European Cities and Regions (Volume I)

The Investment Package Manual Volume I presents the description of the EU Taxonomy concepts, methodology, objectives, technical screening criteria and DNSH (“do no significant harm”) applied to economic activities linked to the circular bioeconomy.

Financing, Investment, Legislation

HOOP project_Webinar New business models

Prevailing business models are overwhelmingly linear and do not often consider the benefits of circularity, which can be hard to quantify. This webinar shares existing and successful innovative circular economy business models for urban circular bioeconomy.

Circular business models, Circular strategies, Financing, Investment

URBIOFIN project_From Urban Waste to Bioproducts

The URBIOFIN project offers a new model for Organic Municipal Solid Waste management, based on the Urban Biorefinery concept. This factsheets briefly outlines and business benefits of such a model.

Circular business models, OFMSW, Valorisation technologies

Zero Waste Europe_Scenario 3: Going beyond just recycling to total tackle waste generation

This publication is part of a series of scenarios written by Zero Waste Europe to give guidance to municipalities willing to adopt a local zero waste strategy. This third and last report focuses on cities with high separate collection rate, between 50% and 70%.

Circular business models, Circular strategies, Collection, Sorting

Zero Waste Europe_Scenario 2: Stepping-up the existing system to go towards zero waste

This publication is part of a series of scenarios written by Zero Waste Europe to give guidance to municipalities willing to adopt a local zero waste strategy. This second report focuses on cities with a separate collection rate between 30% and 50%.

Circular business models, Circular strategies, Collection, Sorting

Zero Waste Europe_Scenario 1: Starting from scratch to quickly improve waste management

This publication is part of a series of scenarios written by Zero Waste Europe to give guidance to municipalities willing to adopt a local zero waste strategy. This first report focuses on cities with a collection of biowaste between 0 and 20%.

Circular business models, Circular strategies, Collection, Sorting

WBCSD_Business guide to circular water management: spotlight on reduce, reuse and recycle

This report aims to help companies in developing strategies to respond to challenges of water availability by implementing circular water management practices.

Circular business models, Circular strategies, Wastewater

WaysTUP! project_Business Models Analysis

This report, published by the WaysTUP! project, gathers and analyses relevant information about circular business models and their importance.

Circular business models

WaysTUP! project_Market Outlook Report

This report is a direct outcome of Task 6.1 Analysis of market outlook. Overall, the scope of the market outlook is focused on the market drivers and barriers to entry for technologies and end-products stemming from the Project’s Pilots.

Circular business models, Circular strategies, Legislation, Pilot projects

ACR+_The governance of circular bioeconomy: Practices and lessons learnt from European regions

In collaboration with the French Pays de la Loire region, ACR+ set up a working group on circular bioeconomy with a particular focus on governance. The objective is to support public authorities in the development of local or regional roadmaps on circular bioeconomy.

Circular strategies, Incentives, Investment, Innovation procurement, Stakeholder engagement

ICLEI_The Power of the Public Plate

This document provides a collection of actionable recommendations for procurers and policy makers towards procuring food with a value chain perspective.

Circular strategies, Innovation procurement

Circle Economy_The Role of Municipal Policy in the Circular Economy

This report explores the connection between municipalities pursuing circular economy policy and investments in circular business that create jobs. Municipal circular policies, especially strategy, targets, loans and subsidies, are conducive to generating employment.

Circular business models, Circular strategies, Financing, Incentives, Investment

WBCSD_Circular bioeconomy: The business opportunity contributing to a sustainable world

The shift to a sustainable, low-carbon, circular bioeconomy represents a business opportunity worth USD $7.7 trillion. This report supports companies through case studies and guidance to overcome the sustainability trade-offs associated with circular bioeconomy business models.

Circular business models, Circular strategies, Investment

EIB_Access-to-Finance Conditions for Investments in Bio-Based Industries and the Blue Economy

The study collects information on the investment and access-to-finance conditions for Bio-based Industries and Blue Economy projects and companies in the European Union, and evaluates the need and potential for dedicated public financial instruments as well as for other policy actions.

Financing, Incentives, Investment