About IDEA Project

“Improved Employability through circular economy education for Adults” is a 30 months Cooperation partnership to promote Circular Economy and Plastic Craftworks among unemployed adults. As the European Union is going through a green renovation process, aiming at becoming climate neutral by 2050, many sectors will be affected, and the circular economy will become ever more important in people’s daily lives. 

According to a paramount report published by OECD in 2020 named “Labour market consequences of a transition to a circular economy: A review paper”, the impact of circular economy and resource efficiency is still a new research field and needs to be further deepened. The EU’s move to a resource-efficient, circular, digitised and climate-neutral economy is expected to create new jobs, while other jobs will change or even disappear. 

For these reasons, it calls for actions that support the twin transitions and that ensure that people have the right skills for jobs.

The project’s aims are twofold. Firstly, it aims at triggering a change of habits concerning circular economy topics such as waste management among the target group (unemployed adults over 50). In this context, a greater promotion is needed of the positive social impacts that Circular Economy (CE) can have on Adults at risk of exclusion and on women in particular. 

In fact, CE can foster not only employability but also social inclusion by promoting a greater sense of social justice and social equity within the more significant framework of sustainable development, satisfying the needs of present and future generations (Padilla-Rivera, 2020).

To reach its core aim, the project has identified the following specific objectives: ​

Creating upskilling pathways for women at risk of exclusion (45+) and/or who did not complete their studies, and increasing their take-up of new adult education opportunities in the circular economy and sustainability field.

Providing Adult Educators and trainers with skills, competencies and tools to engage women at risk of exclusion(45+) and/or who did not complete their studies.