From June 10th to 12th, the United Circles consortium gathered for its General Assembly. Hosted by Gate2Horizon, this two-day event was a key moment for reconnecting, reflecting on progress, and reinforcing shared ambitions for systemic change through circularity.

United Circles is a European initiative that brings together partners from across the continent to build and scale community-driven circular value chains. At its core, the project seeks to transform how regions create, use, and reuse resources by fostering inclusive innovation, policy alignment, and strong local ecosystems.

Strategic Alignment and Progress Sharing

The General Assembly opened with a comprehensive look at how the project has evolved across work packages and pilot hubs. Participants engaged in collaborative sessions to exchange experiences, surface challenges, and map out future priorities. These conversations revealed not only the technical advancements being made, but also the cultural and organizational shifts taking root within partner regions.

Each work package was examined through the lens of cross-regional collaboration and mutual learning. From resource mapping and capacity building to public-private partnerships, the United Circles approach is rooted in the belief that real impact begins locally—when communities take ownership of their sustainability journey.

A Deep Dive into Implementation

Day two of the Assembly shifted focus from progress review to concrete implementation planning. Central themes included:

• Business models for Hubs for Circularity (H4C) technologies
• Social impact assessment methodologies and the role of inclusive metrics
• Governance structures and decision-making processes to support long-term hub viability
• The setup of seed hubs for experimentation and learning
• Results from the standardisation landscape scan, guiding alignment with broader EU frameworks

These sessions allowed partners to translate vision into action, refining strategies that not only serve their own regions but contribute to a replicable blueprint for others across Europe.

Throughout the discussions, one thing was clear: systemic circularity is not a one-size-fits-all solution. It demands adaptability, community engagement, and structures that can evolve with local needs. The Assembly created space for this kind of honest, constructive exchange—laying strong foundations for the next phase of the project.

A Field Visit to Kalundborg Symbiosis

A highlight of the Assembly was a field visit to Kalundborg Symbiosis, one of the world’s most renowned examples of industrial symbiosis in action. Located on Denmark’s west coast, Kalundborg has pioneered a model where companies from different sectors collaborate to exchange energy, water, and materials, transforming industrial by-products into valuable inputs for other processes.

For United Circles partners, the visit to Kalundborg provided powerful, real-world insight into how circular systems can work at scale. The experience reinforced key principles of the project—especially the importance of trust, long-term relationships, and shared vision among stakeholders.

Seeing symbiosis in action helped bridge theory and practice, offering inspiration and practical lessons for how hubs can build enduring ecosystems that benefit both the environment and the economy.

Moving Forward with Purpose

As the Assembly came to a close, participants returned to their regions energized and aligned. The two days in Copenhagen offered not just a moment of reflection, but a renewed sense of direction and urgency. With clear goals and strengthened partnerships, United Circles is entering a new chapter of growth—where ideas become prototypes, and prototypes become scalable solutions.

From governance to grassroots innovation, every part of the project is focused on making circularity equitable, accessible, and real. And with the lessons from Kalundborg in mind, partners are even more motivated to build the next generation of circular hubs—resilient, responsive, and rooted in community.

“The journey continues—and United Circles is ready to turn systemic ambition into real-world impact.”

Be part of the United Circles Stakeholder Community