ΕΡΓΑΣΤΗΡΙΟ ΜΕΤΑΛΛΕΥΤΙΚΗΣ ΤΕΧΝΟΛΟΓΙΑΣ & ΠΕΡΙΒΑΛΛΟΝΤΙΚΗΣ ΜΕΤΑΛΛΛΕΥΤΙΚΗΣ, ΣΧΟΛΗ MHX. ΜΕΤΑΛΛΕΙΩΝ-ΜΕΤΑΛΛΟΥΡΓΩΝ, ΕΘΝΙΚΟ ΜΕΤΣΟΒΙΟ ΠΟΛΥΤΕΧΝΕΙΟ

The REFRAME project, which is funded under the Action KA2 of the Erasmus+ Programme (Contract No: 2020-1-EL01-KA202-078870), aims to create a transitional Circular Economy (CE) framework for construction, manufacturing and craft SMEs. This framework will provide practical knowledge for both SMEs and their employees to implement the principles of CE. 

Main target-groups:
a) Construction, crafts and manufacturing SMEs’ owners/managers/personnel with up to 100 employees & micro-enterprises
b) Employees (current or future) of manufacturing SMEs (Unskilled, Adept, Skilled)
c) VET centres/trainers/consultants
d) experts that support companies with CE processes (internally or externally)
Other target-groups (secondary):
e) manufacturing SMEs associations, non-profit environmental organisations’ members
f) university/college students, municipalities and cities

24 months (1/10/2020 - 30/09/2022)

In recent years, many European companies, especially large ones, have been trying to integrate Circular Economy (CE) strategies and practices into their operations. Compared to large companies, SMEs have less potential and fewer resources to do so, which makes it much more difficult for them to adapt to the new situation. The REFRAME project aims to create a transitional framework for SMEs in construction, manufacturing and craft industries. At the same time, REFRAME will create an online community that will offer advice, disseminate the latest developments and exchange information among participants on how to take certain actions to successfully implement the principles of CE.

The innovation of the REFRAME project is that it will develop a concrete implementation framework and ultimately guide SMEs and micro-enterprises in a step-by-step approach to successfully implement the transition to CE through an in-depth analysis of the existing business context, the risks and opportunities in the transition to CE and the existing business model and how this could be modified to a more circular model.

The project is coordinated by the Laboratory of Mining Technology & Environmental Mining of the School of Mining and Metallurgical Engineering at the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA). It is implemented in collaboration with the following partners:

- TOURNIS SYMVOULEYTIKI EE (Greece)

- PCX COMPUTERS & INFORMATION SYSTEMS LTD (Cyprus)

- CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY VRATSA SDRUZHENIE (Bulgaria)

- INSTITUTO DE SOLDADURA E QUALIDADE (Portugal)

- CSONGRAD COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (Hungary)

The REFRAME project is implemented by 6 partners from 5 EU countries, Greece, Cyprus, Portugal, Bulgaria and Hungary. Its results, however, are targeted at SMEs and micro-enterprises in the construction, manufacturing and handicraft sectors, as well as their employees, across Europe.

In this phase, the main focus of the dissemination activities was on presenting the project, its aims and objectives, the members of the consortium and the activities carried out. This was done through a wide range of dissemination channels. For instance, it is noted that in the first year, the partners used social media platforms to publish 44 posts about the project, reaching around 3,200 people. Two online articles about the project reached more than 3,500 people, and newsletters reached more than 9,000 people. A radio interview was broadcast at regional level (Hungary) explaining the project, its aims and objectives and the benefits for the target groups, reaching 70,000 people.