Large volumes of waste and waste water, poor air and water quality high noise levels, lack of integrated environmental management are unfortunately relevant for most European urban areas.
Re-use is a very effective and relevant approach to counter these critical issues, in particular to address the challenges of waste management and prevention and to implement concrete sustainable production and consumption patterns

The main objective of the SURFACE project is to support the European Strategy for the Circular Economy by extending the life cycle of the product through re-use, then saving resources and improving energy efficiency

SURFACE aims to contribute to the achievement of:

• Ecological sustainability Improve resource efficiency reducing waste and emissions and extending the life of products
• Social sustainability Creating “green jobs” and long-term jobs, including for the low-skilled unemployed, and providing good quality products for people on low incomes.
• Economic sustainability Strengthening regional economies stimulating cooperation between different actors and the
  development of new sectors and business models (in particular for social enterprises, SMEs and service providers) and supporting the economy of sharing.

The specific objective of the SURFACE project is to improve environmental management and quality of life in urban area through the creation of Smart Re-Use Parks.

SUMMARY OF SURFACE PROJECT ACTIVITIES

The innovative approach of the SURFACE project is based on the consideration that Re-use Centres and Networks, as well as reuse/repair experts, are essential components of a wider, flexible and modular combination of re-use-oriented urban services, part of a local/regional circular economy strategy. To achieve the project objectives, SURFACE partners have:

• promoted the exchange of know-how between Central European countries and regions
• developed modular solutions for re-use centres and networks to meet the needs of all Central and Eastern European countries, making them easily adaptable;
• developed an ideal “Smart Re-use Park” model
• launched an online Multi Stakeholder Forum to keep the debate on re-use and circular economy alive
• created concrete tools to activate and manage a Smart Re-use Par
• promoted education on waste prevention and the circular economy, in particular re-use;
• supported cooperation actions between independent repair services, social enterprises, social cooperatives, sustainable service providers, actors and start-ups of the sharing economy local and municipal public administrations, as well as actors in the training and education sector, universities