Online event “Looking at new values for the future of grafts and fashion in the Balkan Region”

The event “Looking at new values for the future of grafts and fashion in the Balkan Region” was held  on May 5th and 6th, 2021 on the online zoom platform in organization of Fashion Weekend Skopje.

Participation in this two days international event had the Executive Director of the  Textile Trade  Association – Textile Cluster – Natasha Sivevska who presented the Design4circle learning platform as well as circular economy good practices in partners countries. This was excellent opportunity to present the Design4Circle project activities and learning platform in front of wider public of young people, students, designers and industry representatives from Blakan region and wider. 

The Design4Circle project presented at international event in Poland

On April 13^th the international on-line conference “International projects for SME’s – Idea’s stock exchange” was held by the University of Lodz (Poland). Among the projects invited to be presented was the Design4Circle project. Stakeholders from Denmark, Spain, Poland, Slovenia and Lithuania attended the conference.

The aims of the conference were:

– To present a varied running international projects addressed to SME’s.

– To facilitate the stock exchange of the ideas.

– To disseminate project’s activities.

– To promote them among potential stakeholders and potential. participants of the project’s activities (SME’s, public administration entities, chambers of commerce etc).

New free online course on circular economy available

Sign up for the Design4Circle course, with a total of 70 hours of training to understand the necessary shift in the textile industry towards a more sustainable circular economy.

Changing our current linear economic model to a circular one is a challenge for the whole society, as we need to manage the use of natural resources while increasing competitiveness, innovation and employment. This adaptation requires developing new skills, from new financial knowledge to marketing strategies, to understand consumer behavior and make sense of new business models.

The Desig4Circle training course allows the student to acquire the necessary knowledge to transform their organization into a company adapted to this new paradigm through 7 learning modules with a complete value chain approach:

The Design4Circle course includes interactive materials such as videos, infographics, presentations, quizzes and additional readings to deepen your knowledge on different topics of interest:

M1. Introduction to Circular Economy

M2. Sustainability challenges in the textile and fashion industry

M3. Materials for a Circular Economy

M4. Design for a Circular Economy

M5. Manufacture for a Circular Economy

M6. Recycling technologies for a Circular Economy of textile and fashion industry

M7. Business management in a Circular Economy

If you are interested in enrolling in this course, go to the training course platform here, where you can register and start the course right now.

http://training.design4circle.eu/

The Design4Circle training course has been funded thanks to the support of the European Commission, through the Erasmus+ program, and the following organizations have participated in its development:

Riga Technical University (RTU)

“Gheorghe Asachi” Technical University of Iasi (TUIASI)

ECORES

Innovative Business Association of Furniture Manufacturers and Related in the Murcia Region (AMUEBLA)

Footwear Technology Centre Of Portugal (CTCP)

Textile Trade Association – Textile Cluster (TTA-TC)

 

Design4Circle Minutes of the 4th Technical Meeting 7th May 2020, ZOOM Meeting Venue: ON-LINE ZOOM

 

Introduction

 

First of all, there were exchanged information about each partner’s situation in the actual conditions of the pandemic situation. As the 4-^th meeting, that should take place in Iasi,was replaced with the on-line session, Dana Belakova (RTU) informed us that there must be justifying documents for hotel or plane tickets in order to be paid.

Next, it was taken into consideration the necessity of the extension of the project, eventually until the end of February 2021, if the situation will impose. The coordinator informed that all the project activities were done according to the project time-lime. She said that, and after the meeting, it will be decided if the project will be extended or not. The situation will be monitored, and the decisions will be made according to it.

 

Item 1 →Checklist of the Intellectual Outputs

 

Dana Belakova evaluates the fulfilment level of each intellectual output:

• O1/A2- the list of people’s occupation- is almost finished. Still, it must be reviewedas soon as possible because module 4 was split into two modules.
• O1/A3 is finished.
• O2/A1 is finished.
• O2/A2- Harmonisation of the European qualification has to be extended for the seven modules. Manuela Avadanei (TUIASI) will complete this task in one week (17/05/2020). The content of the modules is for level 5 of education. At this point, regarding the project piloting activities, Rita Souto (CTCP) asked the permission, to involve other persons. These persons would have experience in the field of textile and clothing industry, even if they graduated to level 4 of education.
• O2/A3is finished.
• O2/A4- Natasha Sivevska (TTA-TC) will send the validation file in Word format toeverybody to be completeduntil 17/05/2020.The Curricula is almost finished; it needs only minor changes (some companies have some suggestions). Natasha Sivevska (TTA-TC) will prepare the conclusions until 17/05/2020.
• O2/A5-Guidelines for the future curriculum was presented by Rita Souto (CTCP) on the last meeting, and it will be sent and uploaded in the cloud in one week.
• Regarding the “Related occupations matched with necessary skills (AMUEBLA&CTCP)“, Raquel Ortega Martínez and Rita Souto will finish the material and uploaded it in the cloud.

 

Item 2→O3 A1 – Training materials development

 

Each partner presented the training modules for which they wereresponsible for:

• Module 1 –was presented by Erwan Mouazan (ECORES). This content was already uploaded in the cloud
• Module 2– was presented by Dana Belakova (RTU)
• Module 3 was presented by Manuela Avadanei (TUIASI),
• Module 4 was presented by Zane Holvame (RTU)
• Module 5 will be soon uploaded in the cloud
• Module 6 was presented by Manuela Avadanei (TUIASI)
• Module 7 –was presented by Erwan Mouazan (ECORES),

 

After all the presentations, the following discussions  took place:

• All the table and diagrams from the slides must have comments and interpretations because nobody will do the required explanations;
• To take care of the references of text and photos, because all the content of the module will be checked for plagiarism. There were discussions about the possibility of uploading YouTube movies in the content of the module.
• The additional reading sources must be listed as a separately from the references list. It is indicated that those materials are freely accessible on-line.
• The total number of hours for one module must include a proportional amount of additional readings
• Each module must have an evaluation (quizzes). The quiz/test must have 10÷15 questions, with multiple choices (maximum 5) or true or false.
• The modules will be uploaded separately on the platform
• The glossary will be at the beginning of the modules, and one glossary per module will be developed.

All the modules will be finished, with references, additional reading, and questions and uploaded on cloud in two weeks (24-th of May).

For reading and comments on all the modules, the deadline is28/06/2020.

 

Item 3→O3/A2 – Student’s guide

 

Manuela Avadanei (TUIASI) presents the Students guide. The question is if the guide will be the same for the modules and on the platform or it will be different.

In this guide, for each module, screenshots of the platform and pictureswill be insertedas graphics explanations of the content.

The guide will stipulate the number of modules recommended for designers or managers.

The number of hours will be supplemented for including the time reading of references and additional resources.

The student’s guide will be uploaded on the cloud until the 17-^th of May.

 

Item 4 →O3/A3 Translation

 

According to the project proposal, only the most important part of the modules will be translated into the national languages of each partner.The discussions were about the size of the material, which will be turned into partner native language.

The conclusion was that for each module, only the most essential information would be in one slide (key elements of the module, e-learning outcomes, etc.). That one will be translated intonational languages.

The Student’s Guide will also be translated intonationallanguages.

 

Item 5 →O3/A4 Ensure open licenses OER for Training materials

 

Next, the discussions were focused on the Certificates theme.

Rita Souto proposed that one certificate per module to be issued and this suggestion was approved. On the e-learning platform, on My Achievements section, every student will be able to follow their progress.

The content of the certificate was discussed and approved (the person name, the titles’ of the accomplished module, the project name and partners’ logo will be automatically generated and written). TUIASI and RTU are not able to issue certificates if the students are not enlisted in their universities.

 

Item 6→O4 /A1 E- learning platform and training test

 

Raquel Ortega Martines (AMUEBLA) presents the E-learning platform structure, way to navigate between the sectors. The platform structure was appreciated, and the discussions were about translating the elements of the platform intonational languages. The menu, student’s guide and the information of each module, structured in one slide, will be translated from English into national languages.

 

Item 7→Quality assurance and risk monitoring plan

 

Rita Souto (CTCP) will provide the six-month report and send it to everybody.

 

Item 8→Dissemination and exploitation

 

Natasha Sivevska (TTA-TC) – the information about the third meeting are on Facebook and on the site.

We will send the fourth meeting report, and it will be disseminated on Facebook and the site.

 

Item 9→Highlight next semesters’ tasks and work to be done

 

In the near future, the finished modules will be uploaded in the cloud (the 24-^th of May). In one month, the first comments on the content of the module are expected until the 28-^th of June.

Then it will start the piloting phase (September 2020).  50 is the total number of participants in the piloting phase. Each partner will develop a report regarding the piloting phase.

Time for the Conference: it must be between 1-31/10/2020.

Each partner will develop a summary presentation (after all the content of the training materials is done, one slide/unit with the most important information) to be presented in the Conference (10-15 slides). Then he/she will share with the rest of the colleagues

The Conference will be done at the national level. Each partner can adapt the presentations and translate it, if it is necessary.  80 is the total numbers of the participants, from all the partners. This Conferences can be done on-line or not, depending on the situation in every country at that moment.

The last meeting, planned in Macedonia→further details will be established according to the concrete situation, at that moment.

 

 

Development of training materials – new practices on eco-design

The European industry wants to increase the level of sustainability and innovation in the production and recycling processes. To achieve such purpose, it’s essential that designers create products that have in mind some principles of circular economy. Environmental concern begins with product design.

In order to help designers to reach this goal, the partners from the European project “Design4Circle”, co-founded by the European Commission, are working together on the development of training materials, in order to provide designers and SMEs with the necessary competences and skills to implement new practices on eco-design.

“Design4circle” aims at increasing the competitiveness of European SMEs through a circular economy approach.

After doing an analysis of the current best practices and skills needs on eco-design in different countries, partners met in Portugal, last week, to validate the work done and prepare for the next phases of the project implementation.

The consortium is created by research, training and business support organisations, universities and national  associations from Latvia, Belgium, North Macedonia, Portugal, Romania, and Spain.

Through the development of innovative eco-design concepts and eco-processes, the project partners pretend to contribute for the creation of new green jobs, especially for designers that follow the new recycling routes and business models towards a circular economy.

During this 3^rd meeting, partners also had the opportunity to know what the Portuguese footwear industry has already done in terms of sustainability.

In addition to contacting with materials and projects related to sustainability, they visited two companies (ISI Soles and Carité Footwear), that have already implemented product strategies and an eco-friendly approach, giving rise to a sustainable methodology.

 

ISI soles

Founded in 1999, I.S.I. – Indústria de Solas Injectadas, Lda., produces 2.8 million pairs of soles annually and has a productive capacity of 4 million pairs per year. It’s committed to assure assistance, development, service and quality for a competitive price.

Since the beginning of its activity, ISI adopts sustainable production principles and uses eco-efficiency as a reference for all operations carried out at the factory. Environmental concern begins with product design; it is at this development stage that the sole life cycle is defined, and its environmental impact is mitigated. Designers and technicians select the raw materials, calculate consumptions, define sole dimensions and, thus, they can influence the behavior and environmental performance in the following stages of production, transport, consumption and final deposition.

ISI Soles has acquired certification for its ISO 14001 and ISO 9001 integrated management system and was the first Portuguese footwear soles producer company to be recognized by the best international environmental practices.

During the visit, participants had the opportunity to see how soles are produced out of bio-based TPU – this type of production reduces the consumption of materials derived from fossil sources, as well as reducing CO2 emissions. They also produce soles out of Biodegradable TPU that meets European standards EN 13432 and EN14995 with soles decomposing at least 90% after 6 months. ISI also developed a Vegan soles line, this collection stands out, on one hand, for not containing any product of animal origin. On the other hand, it was conceived by recycled raw materials through the incorporation of 95% waste from the injection process in the production cycle creating a circular economy.

Carité Footwear

Carité is a footwear company, founded in 1986. Following a strategy that seeks to operate in a high-middle market segment, with high demands on the quality of the materials used and compliance with delivery times, the company has sought through continuous investment in new production, recruitment equipment and technical staff to overcome the main difficulties that arise.

This allowed it to maintain sustained growth in turnover, which exceeded 10 million euros in 2009 and 20 million euros in 2018.

The company has been continuously growing and it’s now divided in 5 different companies specialized in different types of productions. The Carité Group headquarters are in Felgueiras, together with Lança Raiz, both these companies are specialized in producing footwear. In São João da Madeira there is Brada, a company specialized in the development and production of high-end lady shoes. The other two companies are located in Celorico (Top Relevo) and Castelo de Paiva (Arka).

Identifying necessary skills to support circular economy in the textile industry

DESIGN4CIRCLE: Identifying necessary skills to support circular economy in the textile industry

Waste and pollution from the production of textiles and clothing have become a critical global issue.  With only one percent of fibres being recycled, our current ‘linear’ model is outdated and unsustainable. There is an urgent need to adopt innovative strategies to transform the industry into a circular-fit framework.

 

The project Design4Circle – Innovative design practices for achieving a new textile circular sector – was launched in December 2018 to create an innovative training curriculum to meet the needs of designers in the textile and fashion industry. The objective is to motivate designers from the textile sector to design products that will reduce their environmental impact during the product’s life-cycle, while developing new and innovative business models within the principles of circular economy. In order to achieve such purpose, a Strategic Partnership under the Erasmus+ programme has put together 6 organisations from 6 different countries combining complementary expertise in the different fields of the proposed project: two Universities experts in textile design and technologies: RTU, Latvia and TUIASI, Romania; one company expert in circular economy and new business models: ECORES, Belgium; and three business associations and VET providers that support different sectors of the textile industry  through a strong expertise  in eco-design: TTA-TC, Macedonia, AMUEBLA, Spain and CTCP, Portugal.

 

In the initial phase of the project, 29 European companies from 7 countries have been interviewed to identify how their circular economy strategy was implemented. Company representatives were asked to analyze different skills and competencies necessary for the successful implementation of their circular business models. In parallel, 29 higher education institutes and training experts were interviewed to understand which skills and competences are emphasised in their circular economy related training programmes.

 

The second consortium meeting,  took place on 23rd of May in Brussels and  was hosted by circular economy expert  Ecores (Belgium), during which the information collected was analysed. The conclusions will subsequently be used to finalise a report on the skills needs of the textile industry in terms of circular economy. At the same time, good practice cases will be prepared to be included in the future training content developed during the next phase of the project.

 

More information

www.design4circle.eu

 

Contact and press enquiry:

 

Dana BEĻAKOVA

Dizaina tehnoloģiju institūta direktore

Materiālzinātnes un lietišķās ķīmijas fakultāte

Dizaina tehnoloģiju institūts

Ķīpsalas 6-215, Rīga, LV-1048

Dana.Belakova@rtu.lv

+371 26356510

www.rtu.lv

Design4Circle – Project

The project Design4Circle – Innovative design practices for achieving a new textile circular sector – is developed to create an innovative learning curriculum in line with the needs of designers of the textile and fashion industry. The idea is to motivate the designers from the textile sector to create products that will reduce their environmental impact during the product’s life-cycle, and to develop new and innovative businesses within the principles of circular economy. In order to achieve such purpose, a Strategic Partnership has put 6 entities together from 6 different countries and expertise in the different fields of the proposed project: two Universities experts in textile design and technologies: RTU, Latvia and TUIASI, Romania; one company expert in circular economy and new business models: ECORES, Belgium; and three business associations and VET providers that cover different sectors of the textile industry and experts in ecodesign: TTA-TC, Macedonia, AMUEBLA, Spain and CTCP, Portugal.

1st Technical Meeting

On 18th of January 2019 the 1st Technical Meeting was held in Institute of Design Technologies at Riga Technical University – Riga, Latvia.

 

The meeting started with Round table and presentations by each partner organizations for mutual acquaintance among the project partners. Ms. Raquel Ortega Martínez from the project partner AMUEBLA made review of the whole project covering the project aims, objectives, activities, inputs and goals.  The lead project manager Ms. Dana Belakova form the Lead partner organization RTU gave insight of Cooperation Framework – Timetable, administrative issues and Erasmus+ Procedures. In addition Standard Contractual procedures – Grant Agreement – Bilateral Agreements – Financial Regulations and Procedures were discussed among project partners. Further, the Quality assurance and risk monitoring plan was presented by Ms. Rita Souto from CTCP as quality assurance and risk monitoring project manager and the Project Dissemination and exploitation plan was presented by Ms. Natasha Sivevska from TTA-TC as project manager for Dissemination and exploitation. The Project Intellectual Output 1: Analysis of current best practices and needs for ecodesign and implement circular business model in the textile sector was presented by Mr. Erwan Mouazan from the partner organization ECORES.  At the end of the meeting the participants highlighted the next semesters’ tasks and work to be done and discussed about next semester timeline and Intellectual Outputs. In the second part of the day the host of the event organized a visit tour to the Institute of Design Technologies at Riga Technical University. Next project partners meeting will be in May in Brussels. Host of the meeting will be ECORES.