Embracing Sustainable Futures: CERES aims to build a bridge between education...

Circular Economy Alliance 3 years ago

Embracing Sustainable Futures: CERES aims to build a bridge between education and competences needed for the transition towards Circular Economy (CE). As sustainable development requires more systematic approaches, the dialogue between CE and Industry 4.0 aims to build a new set of knowledge and best cases, to be provided through both higher education (HE) and vocational education and training (VET). The fusion of these paradigms goes beyond manufacturing, and touches entrepreneurship, innovation management, and societal development, fostering an approach mindful of the limits of our planet. The focus of CERES is on creating a new educational framework adaptable to the changing demands of CE. How? ✅Through an accurate Market Analysis: research starts from the needs of our societies; this means mapping the kind of skills and competences needed by circular businesses and those businesses transitioning to a circular economy model. This will allow us to figure out the kind of professionals we have to prepare for Today's and Tomorrow's challenges. ✅Through rethinking Education for Circular Economy: Higher education (HE) and vocational education and training (VET) must adapt, equipping learners with the skills needed for a sustainable tomorrow. CERES will contribute to the essential process of curriculum update for CE and its delivery. ✅Through building a community and encouraging networking among CE stakeholders: excitingly, we envision the Circular Economy Digital Innovation Hub (CE-DIH) as a cornerstone, a digital space to connect stakeholders, nurture skills, provide knowledge, and opportunities. At the Circular Economy Alliance, we are proud to be part of this groundbreaking initiative, and we want to extend our heartfelt thanks to the CERES consortium REPIC Ltd, Erion, Aalborg University, Politecnico di Milano, Politecnico di Bari, Cyprus Certification Company / Κυπριακή Εταιρεία Πιστοποιήσης, CERC - Circular Economy Research Center, Cleantech Bulgaria, Centro di Documentazione sui Conflitti Ambientali Associazione (CDCA) for their exceptional efforts and commitment to this important mission. To know more- Sign up https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQL

layersDaily Sustainability Digest

Published about 23 minutes ago



Regulatory momentum across the built environment is tightening as governments and industry bodies align around robust frameworks for decarbonising construction. The EU’s reform of carbon market controls aims to maintain strong carbon price signals to advance whole life carbon reduction, while ISO’s new standard on net‑zero transition plans gives investors and contractors a consistent structure for measuring life cycle cost and performance. The Science Based Targets initiative is establishing clearer boundaries between verifiable net zero carbon buildings and unsubstantiated claims, driving greater transparency in embodied carbon reporting and lifecycle assessment within construction supply chains.

Engineering progress is translating policy ambition into practice. Plans for a large‑scale direct air capture plant on Teesside highlight a new model of carbon neutral construction industry in the UK, pairing heavy engineering expertise with circular economy principles. Expansion of natural fibre insulation and low embodied carbon materials into mainstream housing retrofits demonstrates eco‑design for buildings moving beyond pilot projects. Sustainable construction now depends on accurate whole life carbon assessment and the specification of renewable building materials validated through environmental product declarations (EPDs).

Climate resilience is reshaping valuation and insurance models as climate‑driven subsidence data sharpen awareness of the environmental impact of construction. Developers are applying sustainable building design and low carbon design strategies to manage soil instability and resource efficiency in construction projects. The focus on whole life carbon and embodied carbon in materials signals a maturing market where green construction and sustainable building practices are metrics of competitiveness, not aspiration. Standards such as BREEAM v7 reinforce this shift toward lifecycle performance, end‑of‑life reuse in construction and circular construction strategies that define the next phase of environmental sustainability in construction.

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