Circular Horizon
Basic information
Project Title
Circular Horizon
Full project title
Circular Horizon - A social approach to the circular economy
Category
Shaping a circular industrial ecosystem and supporting life-cycle thinking
Project Description
The “Circular Horizon” project promotes innovative circular economy models in which the key word is transversality. In a world that throws away human beings as easily as it consumes objects, Piazza Grande puts the focus on sustainability across the board: not only attention to the environment, through reuse and valorization of objects and materials, but also to economic sustainability and social inclusion promoted through job placement for people otherwise excluded from the labor market.
Geographical Scope
Regional
Project Region
Emilia Romagna, in the North of Italy, Italy
Urban or rural issues
Mainly urban
Physical or other transformations
It refers to other types of transformations (soft investment)
EU Programme or fund
No
Description of the project
Summary
The “Circular Horizon” project is the core of the sustainability system for the social Cooperative Piazza Grande. Its aim is to provide economic resources to the cooperative while supporting the main political goals Piazza Grande is pursuing: a city with no more homeless and marginalized people in which communities are empowered and are at the same time protagonists and receptors of the economic and social environment.
The project, which involve the whole B area of the cooperative, is composed of several branches:
Il Mercato di Piazza Grande - a vintage and second hand Market distributing all kind of materials and objects, from books to furniture. The Market composes the most relevant element of the project. Indeed, not only is it the largest structure, but a complex system of logistics depends on it to interact with citizens who want to donate goods, and to employ marginalized people normally excluded from the labor market.
La Leonarda - a charity shop in Bologna city center. It is a garrison of alternative and circular economy in one of the most gentrified areas of the city. It collects used clothes and resells them at affordable prices. It interfaces with the citizenry by offering an alternative to the fast fashion stores found in the city center.
Reuse Center in San Lazzaro di Savena, opening in the next months, to bring our know-how also in the metropolitan area of Bologna.
The targets of the project are:
- Citizens, involved in a virtuous circle in which they no longer have to live to consume but can share with the community what they no longer need receiving back new economically beneficial goods.
- The marginalized people, who have gained important employment opportunities by fighting stigma and increasing their autonomy.
- The institutions, which have seen entire areas of the city redeveloped by the continued passage of people, the presence of inclusive businesses, and the organization of events and activities that have activated citizens.
The project, which involve the whole B area of the cooperative, is composed of several branches:
Il Mercato di Piazza Grande - a vintage and second hand Market distributing all kind of materials and objects, from books to furniture. The Market composes the most relevant element of the project. Indeed, not only is it the largest structure, but a complex system of logistics depends on it to interact with citizens who want to donate goods, and to employ marginalized people normally excluded from the labor market.
La Leonarda - a charity shop in Bologna city center. It is a garrison of alternative and circular economy in one of the most gentrified areas of the city. It collects used clothes and resells them at affordable prices. It interfaces with the citizenry by offering an alternative to the fast fashion stores found in the city center.
Reuse Center in San Lazzaro di Savena, opening in the next months, to bring our know-how also in the metropolitan area of Bologna.
The targets of the project are:
- Citizens, involved in a virtuous circle in which they no longer have to live to consume but can share with the community what they no longer need receiving back new economically beneficial goods.
- The marginalized people, who have gained important employment opportunities by fighting stigma and increasing their autonomy.
- The institutions, which have seen entire areas of the city redeveloped by the continued passage of people, the presence of inclusive businesses, and the organization of events and activities that have activated citizens.
Key objectives for sustainability
Social, environmental and economic sustainability is one of the main areas of work and impact of Piazza Grande, and as a leitmotif of numerous services and activities since its statutory purposes.
The area of the organization impacted by Circular Horizon, in 2022 saved 97,737 objects from landfills and sent 141,205 kg of clothes to reuse, saving 293,204 kg of CO2.
Over the years, the European Union has issued many laws on integrated management of the waste cycle: Directive 2008/98/EC, National Waste Prevention Program, Legislative Decree 152/2006, Regional Law 16/2016. One of the key points is the criterion of the so-called waste hierarchy which puts reduction first, followed by reuse and recycling, recovery and finally disposal. Circular Horizon works on the first level of prevention, to reduce the waste production.
The collected material is in fact reused in the reception facilities and apartments for Piazza Grande’s housing projects, destined for specific emergencies (such as the collection of blankets during winter) or sold at the Mercato di Piazza Grande, at the Reuse Centre and at La Leonarda.
Materials such as iron and textiles are given to other social cooperatives to be used; solutions for paper and wood are being studied.
Piazza Grande's attention to environmental impact is widespread in all its services: from the headquarters offices which observe strategic closures for energy saving to the continuous monitoring of consumption in the apartments managed by the cooperative and related awareness raising, up to Pop-House Social Housing project, which regenerated and renovated 22 apartments with technologies such as solar panels and induction heating.
Finally, digitization processes are being implemented to eliminate procedures requiring the printing of documents.
The project is providing second chances also to people, through job placements paths, and uses the income generated in the 3 centers for economic self-sustainability.
The area of the organization impacted by Circular Horizon, in 2022 saved 97,737 objects from landfills and sent 141,205 kg of clothes to reuse, saving 293,204 kg of CO2.
Over the years, the European Union has issued many laws on integrated management of the waste cycle: Directive 2008/98/EC, National Waste Prevention Program, Legislative Decree 152/2006, Regional Law 16/2016. One of the key points is the criterion of the so-called waste hierarchy which puts reduction first, followed by reuse and recycling, recovery and finally disposal. Circular Horizon works on the first level of prevention, to reduce the waste production.
The collected material is in fact reused in the reception facilities and apartments for Piazza Grande’s housing projects, destined for specific emergencies (such as the collection of blankets during winter) or sold at the Mercato di Piazza Grande, at the Reuse Centre and at La Leonarda.
Materials such as iron and textiles are given to other social cooperatives to be used; solutions for paper and wood are being studied.
Piazza Grande's attention to environmental impact is widespread in all its services: from the headquarters offices which observe strategic closures for energy saving to the continuous monitoring of consumption in the apartments managed by the cooperative and related awareness raising, up to Pop-House Social Housing project, which regenerated and renovated 22 apartments with technologies such as solar panels and induction heating.
Finally, digitization processes are being implemented to eliminate procedures requiring the printing of documents.
The project is providing second chances also to people, through job placements paths, and uses the income generated in the 3 centers for economic self-sustainability.
Key objectives for aesthetics and quality
The assets of the Reuse Center and the Reuse Market are primarily used to furnish the reception facilities and apartments managed by Piazza Grande, not only to avoid waste, but also to personalize these places with non-standard furnishings that make it more welcoming and warm.
Furthermore, subsidies on the costs for the purchase of furniture and various supplies for the home are also provided for those people who, from housing transition projects, are moving to public residential housing.
This system of concessions represents an identity choice of Piazza Grande, which works on several levels to give back to marginalized people contexts in which to self-determine and in which they can choose what they prefer, so it also proposes this dynamic in access to specific goods such as furniture.
We have tested that providing a quality experience in these terms also activates a taking care dynamic and enhances feeling at ease and at home in housing-led and housing first projects.
As mentioned before, Circular Horizon also gives the chance to disseminate antiquities and design culture to a broader audience (Reuse Market, Reuse Center and La Leonarda customers), as reinforcement against a “disposal approach” to clothes and furniture.
This last goal is achieved through qualified employees and a communication strategy of storytelling on site and on the social networks of the shops.
Furthermore, subsidies on the costs for the purchase of furniture and various supplies for the home are also provided for those people who, from housing transition projects, are moving to public residential housing.
This system of concessions represents an identity choice of Piazza Grande, which works on several levels to give back to marginalized people contexts in which to self-determine and in which they can choose what they prefer, so it also proposes this dynamic in access to specific goods such as furniture.
We have tested that providing a quality experience in these terms also activates a taking care dynamic and enhances feeling at ease and at home in housing-led and housing first projects.
As mentioned before, Circular Horizon also gives the chance to disseminate antiquities and design culture to a broader audience (Reuse Market, Reuse Center and La Leonarda customers), as reinforcement against a “disposal approach” to clothes and furniture.
This last goal is achieved through qualified employees and a communication strategy of storytelling on site and on the social networks of the shops.
Key objectives for inclusion
Circular Horizon is all about taking care of the community by reducing waste and empowering underprivileged people, because there is no environmental justice without social justice.
So, with the support of a dense network of partners, besides dealing with waste reduction, the project is favoring job placements of marginalized people otherwise excluded from the labor market such as those coming from years of homelessness, from migrations and/or in conditions of serious fragility or social exclusion.
These people became full members of the staff, taking part in the weekly meetings and team building activities.
The 3 spaces also host routes for people who have to carry out public utility work and
orientation training interventions aimed at adolescents and young people with disabilities attending the last years of high school and/or in continuity with it. It is also a settled practice to host curricular internships and post-graduate internships for students of the University of Bologna.
Citizens are involved in the activities with public events, such as festivals and talks, and volunteering activities.
Furthermore, thanks to the cheap but quality goods provided by the 3 shops, we can also consider about 15 disadvantaged people per day among the average customers of each place, who can afford shopping there; then, there are about 300 people living in the facilities and housing led programs managed by Piazza Grande that are benefitting from Reuse Center and Reuse Market goods and services.
So, with the support of a dense network of partners, besides dealing with waste reduction, the project is favoring job placements of marginalized people otherwise excluded from the labor market such as those coming from years of homelessness, from migrations and/or in conditions of serious fragility or social exclusion.
These people became full members of the staff, taking part in the weekly meetings and team building activities.
The 3 spaces also host routes for people who have to carry out public utility work and
orientation training interventions aimed at adolescents and young people with disabilities attending the last years of high school and/or in continuity with it. It is also a settled practice to host curricular internships and post-graduate internships for students of the University of Bologna.
Citizens are involved in the activities with public events, such as festivals and talks, and volunteering activities.
Furthermore, thanks to the cheap but quality goods provided by the 3 shops, we can also consider about 15 disadvantaged people per day among the average customers of each place, who can afford shopping there; then, there are about 300 people living in the facilities and housing led programs managed by Piazza Grande that are benefitting from Reuse Center and Reuse Market goods and services.
Results in relation to category
The area of the organization impacted by Circular Horizon in 2022 saved 97,737 objects from landfills and sent 141,205 kg of clothes to reuse, saving 293,204 kg of CO2.
Thanks to “Cambia il Finale”, Circular Horizon contributed to the collection of over 4.8 thousand tons of bulky waste and WEEE in good condition in recent years.
Thanks to these experiences, in the spring 2023 Piazza Grande won a public call to manage the Reuse Center in San Lazzaro di Savena, expanding Circular Horizon outside of Bologna City.
In 2022, the Reuse Market and La Leonarda hosted 10 educational internships of disadvantaged people, which turned into 3 hiring. The Reuse Center will double these numbers.
The ongoing digitization process has an impact not only on the quality of the reuse services, but also on people belonging to job placement paths, expanding the employability (internal or external to the cooperative) of subjects otherwise excluded from the labor market thanks to the acquisition of digital skills increasingly in demand.
Lastly, events such as Summercato Festival are building content together with communities around complex themes such as the city we would like, political and social contradictions, with the desire to make them accessible and usable also in terms of language, thanks to networking and artistic direction transversal and participatory. The event takes place at our Reuse Market, a place of community and interface with citizens.
Summercato thus aims to disseminate culture about circular economy and to restore protagonism, fun and self-esteem to people in vulnerable conditions, to make them contribute to the life of the community as a citizen who not only enjoys a cultural product, but creates it.
Stimulating the pleasure circuit triggers group and individual processes that bring well-being to people, generating the trust necessary to feel involved and proactive in the community.
In the 2022 edition, about 300 people attended Summercato.
Thanks to “Cambia il Finale”, Circular Horizon contributed to the collection of over 4.8 thousand tons of bulky waste and WEEE in good condition in recent years.
Thanks to these experiences, in the spring 2023 Piazza Grande won a public call to manage the Reuse Center in San Lazzaro di Savena, expanding Circular Horizon outside of Bologna City.
In 2022, the Reuse Market and La Leonarda hosted 10 educational internships of disadvantaged people, which turned into 3 hiring. The Reuse Center will double these numbers.
The ongoing digitization process has an impact not only on the quality of the reuse services, but also on people belonging to job placement paths, expanding the employability (internal or external to the cooperative) of subjects otherwise excluded from the labor market thanks to the acquisition of digital skills increasingly in demand.
Lastly, events such as Summercato Festival are building content together with communities around complex themes such as the city we would like, political and social contradictions, with the desire to make them accessible and usable also in terms of language, thanks to networking and artistic direction transversal and participatory. The event takes place at our Reuse Market, a place of community and interface with citizens.
Summercato thus aims to disseminate culture about circular economy and to restore protagonism, fun and self-esteem to people in vulnerable conditions, to make them contribute to the life of the community as a citizen who not only enjoys a cultural product, but creates it.
Stimulating the pleasure circuit triggers group and individual processes that bring well-being to people, generating the trust necessary to feel involved and proactive in the community.
In the 2022 edition, about 300 people attended Summercato.
How Citizens benefit
The great added value of the Circular Horizon project is its ability to engage citizens and beneficiaries and sectors of civil society in creating a generative ecosystem. Indeed, in this system, citizens are simultaneously donors and users of second-hand goods that are repaired and offered for sale by the Reuse Market, La Leonarda and the Reuse Center creating a relationship of trust between citizens, who rely on the logistics team to clear out apartments and basements to which they donate items, and the market, which benefits from the gifts by giving them a second life and supporting its activities.
Associations and businesses are also involved in this system, through collective efforts that maximize the transformative effect of this new economic model. Civil society is also engaged in public events aiming at spreading awareness on circular economy and reuse, like “Summercato”, the yearly festival taking place at the end of the summer organized by Piazza Grande in the spaces of the Reuse Market.
Last but not least, beneficiaries of the services of the socio-educational area led by Piazza Grande are involved through job placement and specific trainings that enable them to enter a new social and economic system and to recognize themselves as active citizens fighting stigma and social isolation.
Associations and businesses are also involved in this system, through collective efforts that maximize the transformative effect of this new economic model. Civil society is also engaged in public events aiming at spreading awareness on circular economy and reuse, like “Summercato”, the yearly festival taking place at the end of the summer organized by Piazza Grande in the spaces of the Reuse Market.
Last but not least, beneficiaries of the services of the socio-educational area led by Piazza Grande are involved through job placement and specific trainings that enable them to enter a new social and economic system and to recognize themselves as active citizens fighting stigma and social isolation.
Physical or other transformations
It refers to other types of transformations (soft investment)
Innovative character
The project promoted by Piazza Grande is innovative compared to others in the same field because of a number of features:
- Transversality: "Circular Horizon" puts, as the title also states, sustainability at the center of its mandate. However, the word "sustainability" is not only understood as preservation of the environment or reduction of waste and CO2 emissions, but also in its highest and broadest sense. If "environmentalism without class struggle is just gardening," it is not possible to imagine a sustainable commercial garrison without an important eye on the social and economic inclusion of disadvantaged groups. For this reason, Area B in Piazza Grande actively works with job placements of homeless and marginalized people, with the dual goal of providing income to those who do not have it but also developing skills useful in the labor market, working on personal autonomy and individual and group empowerment.
- Impact on corporate culture: as B Area is one of the two pillars of the Piazza Grande cooperative, the value contamination is constant and mutual. In fact, within the housing services promoted by the cooperative, mainly used materials and furniture from the reuse market are used, as well as there is constant contact between the support services for marginalized people and the market regarding job placements. This virtuous ecosystem is a model that has garnered much consensus within the city's third sector.
- Transversality: "Circular Horizon" puts, as the title also states, sustainability at the center of its mandate. However, the word "sustainability" is not only understood as preservation of the environment or reduction of waste and CO2 emissions, but also in its highest and broadest sense. If "environmentalism without class struggle is just gardening," it is not possible to imagine a sustainable commercial garrison without an important eye on the social and economic inclusion of disadvantaged groups. For this reason, Area B in Piazza Grande actively works with job placements of homeless and marginalized people, with the dual goal of providing income to those who do not have it but also developing skills useful in the labor market, working on personal autonomy and individual and group empowerment.
- Impact on corporate culture: as B Area is one of the two pillars of the Piazza Grande cooperative, the value contamination is constant and mutual. In fact, within the housing services promoted by the cooperative, mainly used materials and furniture from the reuse market are used, as well as there is constant contact between the support services for marginalized people and the market regarding job placements. This virtuous ecosystem is a model that has garnered much consensus within the city's third sector.
Disciplines/knowledge reflected
Circular Horizon is a visionary project that encompasses a diverse array of disciplines, each playing a crucial role in shaping its multifaceted landscape. At its core, the project is a harmonious convergence of social economy, antiquities and design, social work professionals for employment integration and digitalization.
The first pillar, Social Economy, underscores the project's commitment to fostering economic systems that prioritize social and environmental well-being.
Antiquities and design experts form another integral facet of the project. This discipline brings a blend of history and aesthetics to Circular Horizon, fostering a value appreciation and attribution of everyday life objects, which become means for storytelling.
The involvement of social work professionals for employment integration underscores Circular Horizon's commitment to social inclusion. Trained operatives play a pivotal role in facilitating the integration of individuals into the workforce, ensuring that the project not only contributes to economic development but also addresses societal challenges by providing meaningful employment opportunities.
Digitalization, the fourth pillar, serves as the technological backbone of Circular Horizon. Embracing cutting-edge digital tools and platforms, the project leverages technology to enhance efficiency, connectivity, and accessibility.
Together, these disciplines form the intricate tapestry of Circular Horizon, a project that aspires to create a holistic and sustainable impact, weaving together economic, cultural, social and technological threads into a fabric that envisions a future where progress is synonymous with inclusivity, environmental consciousness, and cultural appreciation.
The first pillar, Social Economy, underscores the project's commitment to fostering economic systems that prioritize social and environmental well-being.
Antiquities and design experts form another integral facet of the project. This discipline brings a blend of history and aesthetics to Circular Horizon, fostering a value appreciation and attribution of everyday life objects, which become means for storytelling.
The involvement of social work professionals for employment integration underscores Circular Horizon's commitment to social inclusion. Trained operatives play a pivotal role in facilitating the integration of individuals into the workforce, ensuring that the project not only contributes to economic development but also addresses societal challenges by providing meaningful employment opportunities.
Digitalization, the fourth pillar, serves as the technological backbone of Circular Horizon. Embracing cutting-edge digital tools and platforms, the project leverages technology to enhance efficiency, connectivity, and accessibility.
Together, these disciplines form the intricate tapestry of Circular Horizon, a project that aspires to create a holistic and sustainable impact, weaving together economic, cultural, social and technological threads into a fabric that envisions a future where progress is synonymous with inclusivity, environmental consciousness, and cultural appreciation.
Methodology used
The method chosen to be applied for this project is that of "action-research": this methodology allows for the development of different modes of approach and different types of projects that respond to the complex and evolving needs of the communities we work with.
In fact, the model is based on practice, testing different possibilities, involving all parties, and a constant exchange of feedback that leads to new attempts until a system that works for the group is created.
What is special about action-research is that the subjects of the processes are themselves the protagonists of the research: by allowing people to be actively involved in the process, a sense of ownership, trust and responsibility is created that is fundamental to their long-term success. This methodology is particularly effective in complex projects such as “Circular Horizon”: in this context, the dialogue between marginalized people with reduced autonomies and clients and members of the cooperative is crucial. The action-research methodology, by promoting continuous experimentation and analysis of results and processes, allows participating people to question themselves, take responsibility and participate in structured paths of empowerment, facilitating the relationship and experimental dimension of processes.
Moreover, since marginalized people are both beneficiaries and agents of change that we hope will be structural in the long run, the methodology of action-research fits perfectly with the goal of making them a fundamental part of the learning and implementation process of the project itself.
In fact, the model is based on practice, testing different possibilities, involving all parties, and a constant exchange of feedback that leads to new attempts until a system that works for the group is created.
What is special about action-research is that the subjects of the processes are themselves the protagonists of the research: by allowing people to be actively involved in the process, a sense of ownership, trust and responsibility is created that is fundamental to their long-term success. This methodology is particularly effective in complex projects such as “Circular Horizon”: in this context, the dialogue between marginalized people with reduced autonomies and clients and members of the cooperative is crucial. The action-research methodology, by promoting continuous experimentation and analysis of results and processes, allows participating people to question themselves, take responsibility and participate in structured paths of empowerment, facilitating the relationship and experimental dimension of processes.
Moreover, since marginalized people are both beneficiaries and agents of change that we hope will be structural in the long run, the methodology of action-research fits perfectly with the goal of making them a fundamental part of the learning and implementation process of the project itself.
How stakeholders are engaged
Since 2015, Piazza Grande has been a member of “Cambia il finale” (Change the finale), a project active in 89 municipalities throughout Emilia Romagna Region promoted by Hera, an italian multiutility providing environmental, water and energy services, in collaboration with Last Minute Market, a social enterprise and spin-off of the University of Bologna which deals with the recovery of surpluses from large-scale retail trade, training, research and communication projects.
“Cambia il finale” main objective is to give new life to some types of goods (bulky and otherwise) that are still in good condition, redistributing them throughout the Emilia Romagna region thanks to collaboration with social organizations present in the area, which put them back on the market after any restoration interventions.
The project was an opportunity for Piazza Grande not only to recover assets to be used for its own projects, but also to forge important relationships with the promoting companies and other participating bodies, developing joint projects on a social and cultural level which led the reuse area of the organization to become the first one to be digitized.
San Lazzaro Municipality (Comune di San Lazzaro) renovated and granted for free the property in which the Reuse Centre takes place, giving Piazza Grande the chance to increase job placements and goods put again into circulation and to scale up digitization processes.
Special agreements for the supply of furniture, displays and books from the Reuse Market and the Reuse Center have been implemented with the local theaters, restaurants, Community Centers and the Ferrara Women's Justice Center.
In recent years, several props have also been supplied for the set of the Diabolik 1 and 2 films and to other entertainment companies.
Similar collaborations also take place outside the spaces of the cooperative, with the participation of a stand for sales and dissemination in city events organized by a wide range of partners.
“Cambia il finale” main objective is to give new life to some types of goods (bulky and otherwise) that are still in good condition, redistributing them throughout the Emilia Romagna region thanks to collaboration with social organizations present in the area, which put them back on the market after any restoration interventions.
The project was an opportunity for Piazza Grande not only to recover assets to be used for its own projects, but also to forge important relationships with the promoting companies and other participating bodies, developing joint projects on a social and cultural level which led the reuse area of the organization to become the first one to be digitized.
San Lazzaro Municipality (Comune di San Lazzaro) renovated and granted for free the property in which the Reuse Centre takes place, giving Piazza Grande the chance to increase job placements and goods put again into circulation and to scale up digitization processes.
Special agreements for the supply of furniture, displays and books from the Reuse Market and the Reuse Center have been implemented with the local theaters, restaurants, Community Centers and the Ferrara Women's Justice Center.
In recent years, several props have also been supplied for the set of the Diabolik 1 and 2 films and to other entertainment companies.
Similar collaborations also take place outside the spaces of the cooperative, with the participation of a stand for sales and dissemination in city events organized by a wide range of partners.
Global challenges
The Circular Horizon project addresses some important issues that characterize modern times by producing local solutions to global problems.
The principles the project is inspired by are the UN Sustainable Development Goals, specifically Goal 1 "Defeating poverty," Goal 3 "Health and well-being," Goal 5 "Gender equality," Goal 10 "Reducing inequality," and Goal 11 "Sustainable cities and communities."
To be more specific:
Goal 1: Through job placement, group work, and the construction of new individual and collective meaning, the Piazza Grande Cooperative succeeds in facilitating the deconstruction of stigma and work-related expectations of the marginalized people it works with. In addition, the construction of new sources of income, as well as skills and autonomy in work, allows in the long run to break free from street life and to build up a relational network.
Goal 3 and 10: Through work placements in inclusive environments and the enhancement of individuality and through the establishment of generative group dynamics, the main effects on health and inequalities have been a reduction in violent acts, the promotion of all-round well-being, and a reduction in the impact of street life on the daily lives of homeless people who benefit from work placements.
Goal 5: All positions of responsibility within the Area B facilities and the project are held by female people, thus rebalancing the gap present at the national and local level, making Piazza Grande a majority-female cooperative.
Goal 11: The city's environmental sustainability is encouraged through a strategy that focuses on reuse, recycling, and reduction of CO2 production, also promoted through events to raise awareness and social campaigns on the issue.
That is why Circular Horizon, since its name, hopes to be a broad circle.
The principles the project is inspired by are the UN Sustainable Development Goals, specifically Goal 1 "Defeating poverty," Goal 3 "Health and well-being," Goal 5 "Gender equality," Goal 10 "Reducing inequality," and Goal 11 "Sustainable cities and communities."
To be more specific:
Goal 1: Through job placement, group work, and the construction of new individual and collective meaning, the Piazza Grande Cooperative succeeds in facilitating the deconstruction of stigma and work-related expectations of the marginalized people it works with. In addition, the construction of new sources of income, as well as skills and autonomy in work, allows in the long run to break free from street life and to build up a relational network.
Goal 3 and 10: Through work placements in inclusive environments and the enhancement of individuality and through the establishment of generative group dynamics, the main effects on health and inequalities have been a reduction in violent acts, the promotion of all-round well-being, and a reduction in the impact of street life on the daily lives of homeless people who benefit from work placements.
Goal 5: All positions of responsibility within the Area B facilities and the project are held by female people, thus rebalancing the gap present at the national and local level, making Piazza Grande a majority-female cooperative.
Goal 11: The city's environmental sustainability is encouraged through a strategy that focuses on reuse, recycling, and reduction of CO2 production, also promoted through events to raise awareness and social campaigns on the issue.
That is why Circular Horizon, since its name, hopes to be a broad circle.
Learning transferred to other parties
Starting from the processes in progress, Piazza Grande has undertaken internal innovation and digital transformation work to bring greater efficiency and effectiveness through the analysis, modeling, optimization and computerization of its processes.
Circular Horizon is benefitting from practices and technologies resulting from a proven background on one hand and from recent openings to innovation on the other, which guarantee replicability and scalability in a new environment, in the awareness that digitization processes can guarantee an increase in terms of interventions and goods sold using online channels, a greater rotation and awareness of goods in the warehouse, and overall a more efficient management.
The already mentioned process was at first implemented at the Reuse Market in Bologna, then replicated at the Reuse Center in San Lazzaro di Savena and also at the charity shop in Bologna city center, La Leonarda.
The program will help Piazza Grande to join external events such as fairs and festivals in the Emilia Romagna Region, while the online shop will allow products to be purchased also from other regions and from other countries.
The digitization process could also play a crucial role in new upcoming projects, concerning both new sectors and new geographical areas.
Then, as mentioned before, the "action-research" methodology is something that we would like to replicate because it is meant to adapt to different contexts, and also the integrated approach to carry on social and environmental issues together because it’s the project’s dna.
The service organization of collecting goods-checking and/or repairing them- selling them, thanks to job placements paths, is a settled know-how that we can transfer to new projects.
Lastly, dissemination events with our tested format (debating and performing about sustainability) is also another asset of Circular Horizon that could be successfully introduced elsewhere to engage new audiences.
Circular Horizon is benefitting from practices and technologies resulting from a proven background on one hand and from recent openings to innovation on the other, which guarantee replicability and scalability in a new environment, in the awareness that digitization processes can guarantee an increase in terms of interventions and goods sold using online channels, a greater rotation and awareness of goods in the warehouse, and overall a more efficient management.
The already mentioned process was at first implemented at the Reuse Market in Bologna, then replicated at the Reuse Center in San Lazzaro di Savena and also at the charity shop in Bologna city center, La Leonarda.
The program will help Piazza Grande to join external events such as fairs and festivals in the Emilia Romagna Region, while the online shop will allow products to be purchased also from other regions and from other countries.
The digitization process could also play a crucial role in new upcoming projects, concerning both new sectors and new geographical areas.
Then, as mentioned before, the "action-research" methodology is something that we would like to replicate because it is meant to adapt to different contexts, and also the integrated approach to carry on social and environmental issues together because it’s the project’s dna.
The service organization of collecting goods-checking and/or repairing them- selling them, thanks to job placements paths, is a settled know-how that we can transfer to new projects.
Lastly, dissemination events with our tested format (debating and performing about sustainability) is also another asset of Circular Horizon that could be successfully introduced elsewhere to engage new audiences.
Keywords
Sustainability
Circularity
Community
Inclusion
Empowerment
