Circularity came to life in Chalki Island, Greece: MIR Foundation participated in the 5th CAROUSEL Project meeting and Pop circularity festival

Circularity is most impactful when it moves beyond concepts and becomes part of everyday community life. This was precisely the experience shared by partners of the CAROUSEL project on the Greek island of Chalki, where the 5th CAROUSEL Project meeting, Study visit and Pop circularity festival brought together project partners, local creators, artists and community members from across the ADRION region.

Representing the Foundation for Management and Industrial Research (MIR Foundation) were Gabriela Kostovska Bogoeska, Executive director, and Emilija Andonova, Programme manager, who actively participated in the project coordination meetings, study visits and public engagement activities held from 8 to 10 June 2026.

Hosted by the Municipality of Chalki, the meeting focused on reviewing project progress, discussing the implementation of pilot actions across partner regions and coordinating the next phase of activities. During the technical sessions, partners exchanged updates on work packages, local circular ecosystems and project results that contribute to the development of sustainable, community-driven circular economy models throughout the ADRION region.

One of the key highlights of the meeting was the presentation of the Chalki pilot, which has emerged as a strong example of how local communities can transform waste materials into valuable products and public assets. Through the Circular HUB and Pop-Up Shop established at the Innovation Park, the island demonstrated how materials can follow a circular journey—from collection and reuse to the creation of new products and applications in public spaces.

The programme also included a study visit that enabled participants to experience the pilot in practice. Partners visited local creative initiatives, engaged directly with artisans and producers, and learned about processes related to textile upcycling, natural cosmetics, marine wood constructions, crafts and other circular products developed within the local ecosystem. The visit further strengthened collaboration among partners while encouraging the exchange of knowledge and practices that can be transferred to other communities across the region.

The event continued with the Pop Circularity Festival, an interactive public initiative designed to showcase circular economy practices developed through the CAROUSEL project. More than a traditional conference or exhibition, the festival created an open and engaging space where local residents, visitors, project partners and stakeholders could experience circularity firsthand through exhibitions, workshops, storytelling sessions and hands-on activities.

Throughout the festival, visitors explored circular products, met local creators and participated in workshops dedicated to textile upcycling, natural products, marine wood reuse and the creative repurposing of materials.

One of the festival’s central activities was the collaborative co-creation process entitled Building the Bench, during which artists, artisans, project partners and community members worked together to construct a public bench using reused materials. The activity culminated in the official unveiling of the completed installation, symbolising cooperation, creativity and active community engagement.

The Chalki pilot reflects the broader vision of CAROUSEL – Creating A maRketplace fOr Up-cycled productS sEcond Life – a project that promotes advanced upcycling processes through the development of local circular ecosystems and stronger collaboration among public authorities, creative industries, businesses and citizens. Across the ADRION region, project partners continue to work together to transform linear consumption patterns into circular lifestyles that give materials and products a meaningful second life.

For MIR Foundation, participation in Chalki represented another important step towards supporting community-driven circular solutions, strengthening regional cooperation and promoting innovative approaches to sustainability. Building on the momentum generated through previous CAROUSEL meetings, the Foundation remains committed to fostering stakeholder engagement, communication and collaboration that connect local communities with the growing circular economy movement across the Adriatic-Ionian region.