RING: Inclusive Regions for a New Solidarity-Based Resource Management

Objectives

The RING project (Inclusive Regions for a New Solidarity-Based Resource Management) aims to develop the circular and social economy across the cross-border territory of the Atlantic Pyrenees and the Basque Country. It responds to the environmental and social crises we are currently facing by strengthening existing initiatives in the region and thereby contributing to regional cohesion, waste reduction, responsible resource management, and the development of activities with a positive impact.

AIMA and Emmaüs are the two Social and Solidarity Economy organisations dedicated to solidarity-based reuse that initiated the project. Solidarity-based reuse consists of extending the lifespan of objects through a non-profit approach that serves the community. Both organisations manage several reuse centres and have joined forces to share their experience and expertise in two complementary areas: the reuse of professional furniture (AIMA) and territorial networking (Emmaüs).

With the support of MIK (the research centre of Mondragon Unibertsitatea), Valdelia (the Extended Producer Responsibility organisation for the professional furniture sector), the RNRR (National Network of Resource Centres and Recycling Facilities), and HABIC (the cross-border cluster for habitat, wood, development and design), the partners contribute complementary expertise to implement the project through three key actions:

• Conducting studies and analyses to remove regulatory and organisational barriers.
• Developing training programmes for circular economy stakeholders.
• Deploying a new professional furniture reuse activity and creating solidarity stores in rural areas.

This cross-border cooperation project aims to develop shared capabilities by leveraging the experience of different actors within the sector and promoting replicable good practices for the benefit of public institutions, companies, associations and citizens.

The project’s outcomes will be sustainable and transferable, with training initiatives and solidarity retail outlets that will continue beyond the project’s duration.