Welcome to Circular living!
Our current economic system is linear, which means we take, make, use, and dispose. Our planet offers finite resources, so this system is clearly unsustainable with 3 billion new consumers in the next 30 to 40 years. We need a new economy!


Would you be committed to a future where end-of-life resources are transformed into products that enrich our lives and power homes and businesses? A future where production and consumption go hand in hand – and nothing goes to waste - is called: Circular Economy.

Circular economy as defined by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation global thought leader of the concept, is “one that is restorative and regenerative by design, and which aims to keep products, components and materials at their highest utility and value at all times, distinguishing between technical and biological cycles.”

Within this system, waste does not exist. Goods of today are the resources of tomorrow!

This webquest will help you to become familiar with the concept of circular economy and circular thinking as well as its benefits, and how to promote it.

Living circular!
Have you ever thought of the advantages we would benefit from in our everyday lives in case zero waste economy/circularity would be applied by businesses?  

Some of the most common examples of circularity in everyday life are:
· zero waste groceries
· zero waste production of medical plants
· production of compostable/reusable packaging material
· repair cafes/workshops
· reusing waste in fashion design (by promoting waste as a resource)
· upcycling of used materials (e.g. old furniture)
· clothes made from recycled fabrique
· reusable nappies

We have a challenging task for you in this webquest: identify circular practices (very small businesses which apply the concept of circularity/circular economy) in your region and make short digital stories (3-4-minute video interviews) of these, emphasizing the impact (economic, environmental, social, etc) they have on their community. Finally, spread the word about these small enterprises by using social media tools such as Facebook, Instagram!

1) In order to better understand what circular thinking and, consequently, what circular economy is, watch the Youtube videos and Ted talks from the videos section. In addition, you can also read about these concepts in the Useful Links section.
As collaborative work develops your other competences as well (e.g. critical thinking, teamwork, etc.), it is wise to work in groups of three, so, choose your mates.


Discuss all the newly got information with your teammates, focusing specifically on the concept of circularity/circular thinking/circular economy.
After this, as a team, share your findings within the bigger group using a flipchart.

2) Your big group discussion should be led by your trainer, and should lead to identifying the main elements of circularity, which will actually be the criteria based on which you will identify small business in your area applying the concept of circular thinking/circular economy.

3) Together with your team, and based on the previously agreed criteria - as characteristics of circularity - you should identify small businesses in your region which are running according to the principles of circularity (min. 1 business to be identified per team).

4) In big group, your trainer should introduce you to digital storytelling (creating video interviews) and you should agree on the list of criteria the video interviews of all teams should fulfill (length of time, technical parameters, interview questions, variety of settings to be filmed, conveying the message of circularity/circular thinking in a visual and engaging way e.g. by using powerful keywords or images which communicate symbols or metaphors, permission of individuals filmed, storage location, etc.).
Hint: The interview questions should support you in getting the right and concise information.

Example of questions:
Intro questions
-   How was your business idea born?
-   What is the main activity of your business?
-   Who is working in this business?

Skills and competences
-   Which are your skills for running this business?
-   Which specific competences do you have?
-   Which are your relevant work experiences?

Key challenges and success factors
-   What drives your motivation?
-   What does it take to be successful?
-   To which things/aspects/factors do you attribute your success to?
-   What is the impact of your business on your local community (economic, social, environmental)?

Success factors in the business strategy
-   Did you get any support from the local community? National or European Funding?
-   Is your business growing?/ Do you have plans for extending the business?
-   What would you like to learn or to know better?

5)  Based on the criteria for video interviews previously agreed, each team should develop the videos with the circular small businesses identified using smart phones or tablets. The editing (using multimedia-rich elements e.g. text and music) of the videos should be done similarly by the teams, by using simple free softwares e.g. Moviemaker, Animatron, Video Scribe, or Adobe Premier in case there is a possibility for you to use paid video editing software.


All groups should present their videos, and the feedback session on each will be lead by the trainer.

6) To create high visibility for the circular businesses identified, use social media networks and tools (Facebook and Instagram). Together with your teammates, create highly captivating Facebook and Instagram posts in order to spread the word about the circular businesses (and their products and/or services) identified by using the videos developed.

On the completion of this webquest, the learner will be able to:

Knowledge	Skills	Attitudes
· fundamental knowledge on circular economy · fundamental knowledge of information search tools · fundamental knowledge on multimedia-rich digital stories · fundamental knowledge of time management · fundamental knowledge of teamwork rules · basic knowledge of effective communication	· differentiate between the circular economy and the linear system of production, consumption and waste · identify attitudes related to circular economy processes · create and edit multimedia-rich videos, using simple software · use digital stories for stimulating critical thinking and communicating symbolism or metaphors · research, gather and organize information · work in a team to complete an assignment · use effective ways of communication to convince others · use own competences to increase team’s performance	· take a position/express an informed opinion when comparing a linear economy with circular economy · demonstrate ability of critical thinking  when developing digital stories · adapt own behaviour to the circumstances in order to promote a good teamwork environment · motivate others to take part of a positive change · cooperate with others to achieve the team’s goals · take responsibility for its own performance and tasks in the team · handle criticism and accept constructive feedback

Live circular! Promote circular thinking! Goods of today are the resources of tomorrow!