NEWS: At the Chalki Innovation Park, the heart of the circular economy is beating strong. The Upcycling Pop-Up Shop and the “Pop Circularity Festival” will become a focal point for creativity, collaboration, and innovation
The Municipality of Chalki announces the operation of the Upcycling Pop-Up Shop from 2 to 17 June 2026 at the Chalki Innovation Park. This initiative is implemented as part of the Upcycling Hub, a physical and organizational space where activities related to the collection, sorting, redesign, and transformation of underused or discarded materials into new, higher-value products are developed.
The Pop-Up Shop is an itinerant shop traveling across the four pilot regions of the CAROUSEL project, promoting collaboration and the exchange of best practices among local communities. It is a dynamic space for creative reuse and circular innovation, hosting six Greek creators who will showcase products made from upgraded recyclable materials.
At the same time, the Municipality of Chalki announces the organization of the two-day “Pop Circularity Festival” on 9 and 10 June 2026, an open and interactive celebration dedicated to the Circular Economy, creative reuse, and collaboration among local communities, artists, and partners of the CAROUSEL project. The festival is designed as an open and participatory space where visitors will have the opportunity to experience the principles of the Circular Economy in practice through creative activities, presentations, and hands-on experiences presented by creators involved in the CAROUSEL pilot actions from participating countries.
During the festival, the following activities will take place:
- Presentations of circular economy initiatives from Chalki and collaborating regions
- Exhibition of upcycled and circular products
- Interactive workshops and participatory activities
- Creative material reuse activities
- Demonstrations of natural products and handicrafts
A central activity of the festival will be the collective co-creation of a bench made from reusable materials through the collaboration of artists, citizens, students, and visitors.
In parallel, short videos focusing on the reuse of recycled materials and the creative process of transforming them into new products will be screened.
The above activities will also coincide with the welcoming of CAROUSEL project partners to Chalki, as well as creators participating in the corresponding pilot actions from Serbia, Italy, and Slovenia. Participants will take part in an educational visit and actively engage in the festival’s activities.
As part of the overall programme, a Conference entitled “Development of Local Circular Economy Communities in Small Island Municipalities of Greece” will take place on 11 June. The conference will be held in the Municipal Council Hall of the Municipality of Chalki and aims to encourage the exchange of views and the development of policy proposals for the growth of local circular economies, with particular emphasis on small island communities in Greece.
We invite the residents of Chalki, visitors, organizations, young creators, professionals, and anyone interested or active in the Circular Economy to visit the Innovation Park, explore the Upcycling Pop-Up Shop, and participate in the Pop Circularity Festival.
Upcycling Pop-Up Shop
Date: 2–17 June 2026
Opening Hours: Monday – Friday: 10:00 – 17:00
Saturday: 10:00 – 14:00, within the framework of scheduled special activities
Pop Circularity Festival
Date: 9 & 10 June 2026
The detailed Programme of the two-day festival is available here:
The above initiatives are expected to promote the exchange of best practices while strengthening collaboration among local and European institutions and businesses. At the same time, they support the development of sustainable models of production and consumption, highlighting new approaches to material reuse and green innovation.
These activities are organized by the Municipality of Chalki with the active support of the Network of the Insular Chambers of Commerce and Industry of the European Union – INSULEUR. Both organizations are partners in the CAROUSEL project, which is co-funded by the Interreg IPA ADRION Programme.