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Short Abstract

CircleUp explores how citizen science can connect citizen engagement, data generation, and policy action in circular economy transitions, using participatory methods to transform citizens from consumers into active co-creators of circular and data-driven governance.

Abstract

The transition to a circular economy demands not only technological innovation but also meaningful citizen participation and data integration across governance levels. Yet, a persistent gap remains between citizens’ engagement, the data they generate, and how this evidence informs decision-making. CircleUp investigates how citizen science can address this gap through participatory approaches that connect behavioural data, social learning, and governance. Existing research recognises citizens as political and social actors in circular transitions, moving beyond consumer roles to influence how circular systems are governed (Ortega Alvarado, 2023; Korsunova et al., 2021). CircleUp builds on this evidence to explore how participatory methods can embed citizen agency within environmental governance frameworks. By examining behavioural patterns, digital data practices, and collaborative interpretation processes, the project tests how citizen-generated evidence can inform circular strategies and create transparent, inclusive decision-making environments. Implemented across four pilot sites in the United Kingdom, Latvia, Norway, and Germany, CircleUp demonstrates how citizen science can strengthen accountability and civic ownership in circular economy governance, reframing circularity as both a social and data-driven transformation.

The CARE project involved over 100 households to study their current practices regarding food waste and circular clothing with the aim to be scaled up in Europe. A practice-oriented perspective in conjunction with the use of an intervention-based approach are applied in the project that takes place in five different European countries and cities, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Germany and Estonia. We will present the outcomes of the first phase in the project in which the households have been recruited and observation of current practices as well as assessment of environmental impact including community related activities have been performed.