Green Retail - towards a circular economy in the cross field between retail businesses, consumers and governance institutions

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The transition to a circular economy is not a straightforward journey from A to B. It is often a disjointed process, requiring all actors involved to think innovatively and work in close collaboration with an aim of creating a more sustainable world. This calls for a holistic design approach and partnership with game-changing private and public organizations who can innovate and reimagine the connections between people and organizations. This is what the Green Retail project offers. Its our goal to transform the retail industry into a circular economy by engaging both consumers and governance institutions. We will work in this cross field and foster a broad societal circular design. The Green Retail Concept and Toolkit which can be widely implemented and scaled in the North Sea Region (NSR) and beyond. We have three target groups: Retail businesses from urban and rural areas primarily within design handcrafts, food, and textile industries; consumers; and governance institutions, such as municipalities and city councils within the three pilot cities: Gothenburg, Bruges and Vejle. Each retail store is different, in terms of the level they are at when it comes to a circular transition process. However, they are all concerned with their customers, sales, and legislation. We will use circular tools in a guided transnational process with these retail businesses and their consumers. But how can consumers play an active role in the circular transition? This project seeks to explore this question and if, in fact, they can help businesses close the loops on products and packaging. Lastly, the governance institutions play a crucial role in defining how political strategies can help businesses and citizens move forward in the circular process. Through climate partnerships that focus on circularity and establishing local steering groups with political participation, we include the governance level of intervention. Overall Objective: To develop a scalable concept and toolkit that can be replicated across cities and sectors to transform the retail industry into a more circular economy. In the process, we will engage retail businesses, consumers, and governance institutions in the pilot cities of Gothenburg, Bruges, and Vejle.

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