This report presents the key insights that emerged from the workshop on Re-Valuing resources: cross-sectoral circular solutions for a sustainable future.

It sets out how the eight participating EU projects enable cross-circularity through material reuse, digital tools and systemic approaches that intersect across industries, governance levels and territorial levels.

It then identifies the conditions that enable replication and scaling, drawing on real-world demonstrations and stakeholder experiences.

Lastly, it highlights the social, community and governance dimensions that underpin successful circular transitions, with a focus on participatory practices, long-term trust-building and multi-actor collaboration.

Every year, our global economy consumes around 100 billion tonnes of resources — three quarters of which it cannot replenish. This reliance on a constant flow of virgin raw materials leaves our economies increasingly exposed to price shocks, supply disruptions and the universal inefficiencies of resource waste. One direct way to relieve this pressure is to keep materials circulating at their highest value.

The Rediscovery Centre considers that:

• the call for evidence focuses too much on measures to enhance collection and recycling and too little on prevention, repair and reuse;
• tackling consumption rates and increasing reuse will also reduce the EU’s reliance on imports;
• welcomes the move to develop EPR schemes but feels that the non-profit sector and other key stakeholders involved in the design and implementation process should be involved as well as producers;
• more effective circularity metrics and targets are needed, including separate targets for consumption reduction, repair, reuse and preparation for reuse;
• dedicated and sufficient financial mechanisms and funding streams are needed to ensure the viability of prevention, repair and reuse initiatives across the EU.