Reuse and Upcycling as Drivers of Creativity, Cooperation, and Sustainable Development in Local Communities

The training seminar series entitled “Creativity, Innovation and New Opportunities through Upcycling,” organized by the Municipality of Chalki (Greece) in collaboration with the INSULEUR, in the framework of the European project CAROUSEL, has been completed.

The training cycle was conducted in a hybrid format throughout October 2025, comprising three thematic sessions with a total duration of 8 hours:

1. Upcycled Products: Concept, Benefits, and Vision, 6/10/2025
2. Good Practices and Case Studies of Upcycled Materials, 13/10/2025
3. Case Study: Creating a Community and Marketplace for Upcycled Materials in the Municipality of Chalki, 17/10/2025.

The sessions were led by Dr. Ilona-Eleftheria Ouassitsa, Head of Educational Services & Innovation at EduTech DIH, and Dr. Charalampos Syrgiannis, Director of the Rhodes Butterfly Education Center for the Environment & Sustainability.

The training offered participants educational material, knowledge exchange, and hands-on engagement in the case study for the creation of a local Upcycling Community. Participants came from diverse sectors, including recycling and waste management, product design, local governance, civil society organisations, and more.

This initiative is part of the Municipality of Chalki’s broader strategy to establish a local circular ecosystem on the island. It is also linked to similar pilot actions in Italy, Slovenia, and Serbia, to expand the model across the ADRION region.