The Change(K)now! project helps municipalities reduce single-use food packaging in food delivery and catering systems, and build social acceptance among companies and people for circular reuse of food packaging.

Project summary

Change(K)now! is concerned with promoting a mind-set change in food delivery systems from single-use to multiple-use crockery and packaging at different use types. The project is focused on municipalities and municipal entities, food delivery businesses operating within, and, crucially, its residents. These players can drive the circularity of urban food delivery systems by adopting sustainable solutions and changing routines & behaviors. The problem is that such options are dispersed, their applicability is not tested beyond a particular case, and are not tailored nor mainstreamed widely enough to create acceptance by businesses and consumers. Change(K)now! will overcome this barrier by a) prototyping solutions, b) testing in pilot cases context and c) innovating existing circular solutions for food delivery so they are easier to adopt at four levels: municipal strategic management, institutional catering at public entities, catering at public events and in entrepreneurial activities on local food markets and gastronomy on public space. A training program on the set of solutions will transfer project outcomes via local multipliers. Easier access and training on circular solutions will enable municipalities to work as sustainability hubs by better mainstreaming circularity in their activities and territories, nudging businesses to reduce the environmental footprints of their operations, and shaping residents' behavior to change conducive to circular food delivery systems.

How often have you heard or caught yourself thinking that there are so many places around that are abandoned, but could be inhabited or restored in some other way. In the 6th episode of the 4th season of the "Zinātne tuvplānā" talk show, the director of Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences "Architecture and construction" study direction, lecturer Marija Katrīna Dambe and the curator of the "Free Riga" Paula Cukura will discuss how empty buildings can be taken over for the needs of communities. Within the framework of the project "Building Alternative Skills to Implement Creativities and Commons - BASICC", a road map of the educational program will be created, but what can be learned about taking over abandoned buildings? How can universities cooperate with non-governmental organizations and municipalities? "Zinātne tuvplānā" is a talk show about research and topics important to society.

The activities are implemented by the Erasmus+ project “Building Alternative Skills to Implement Creativities and Commons-BASICC", No. 101111802” and are co-financed from the European Union budget.

At the beginning of July 2024, Linda Murāne went to Brussels, where the next experience and research visit of project partners was held within the framework of the BASICC project. Two communities MONA and ZENNEKE were visited. The ZENNEKE community has obtained a lease in an old factory, which is periodically renovated using reusable materials. The community offers metalworking courses and participates in a carnival every other year, where students' projects are displayed. On the other hand, the community MONA (from the word monastery) is housed in a Catholic church. The community has four projects, where local residents help organize various events and maintain the building.

The activities are implemented by the Erasmus+ project “Building Alternative Skills to Implement Creativities and Commons-BASICC, No. 101111802” and are co-financed from the European Union budget.