FRONTSH1P_D2.6 Circupuncture Model & Circupuncture Action Plan for Lodzke Region
Creators: name: Przygodzki, Zbigniew
Publisher: name: FRONTSH1P Project
Year: 2024

description: This report – Deliverable 2.6 (D2.6) – Circular Governance Model, operational framework,  Lodzkie region CEAP enhancement and implementation updates – is the result of the work carried out  under the Work Package 2 – Regional Systemic Circular Economic Approach, Task 2.2. – Regional  Circularity Booster Toolkit. D2.2.

The change in the role of the Marshall Office within the project, as well as the results of the studies conducted as part of Task 2.1 and presented in Deliverable 2.1, necessitated the search for a different approach to developing the Circular Governance Model and Circular Economy Action Plan for the Lodzkie Region. The CircuPuncture Model and CircuPuncture Action Plan, as outlined in the report, consider policy, social aspects, and stakeholder involvement perspective.

The goal of the FRONTSH1P project is to ensure the green and just transition of the Polish  Region of Lodzkie towards decarbonization and territorial regeneration through the demonstration of  highly replicable regenerative Circular Systemic Solutions (CSS). These Systematic Solutions aim to  address the current challenges and needs of the region, transforming them into opportunities for  economic growth, social inclusion, decarbonization of production and consumption systems, improvement of the quality of life for citizens, and reconnection between the urban and rural area.

To achieve the objectives stated above, the Circular Governance Model and the Circular Economy Action Plan (CEAP) for the Lodzkie Region need to be elaborated. The frameworks for both  documents are based on the assumptions adopted in the FRONTSH1P project and in regional strategic  documents, such as The Development Strategy of the Lodzkie Region 2030 and the action plan  developed in the scope of the REPLACE project. Both the Circular Governance Model and the CEAP  are crucial for the proper deployment of the circular economy in the region because they provide essential guidance and facilitate the transition.

The Circular Governance Model defines the method of coordinating the activities of the region’s stakeholders who are willing to act for the circular transformation of the Lodzkie Region. Diagnosis carried out in the first phase of the FrontSh1p project proved that in the Lodzkie Region we are dealing with a high level of market failures and governance failure. Moreover, the incentive system, including GPP, is not effective. Therefore, in the initial stage, the territorial scope of the Circular Territorial Cluster in the Lodzkie Region is limited to specific parts of the region. A territory was selected, including the capital of the region, which is coordinated by two large territorial networks: Łódź Metropolitan Area Association (SLOM) and Bzura Intermunicipal Association (Bzura). These organizations have strong potential and activity for circular transformation. Therefore, the boundaries of CTCs are fuzzy. They may change, eventually expanding to the entire Lodzkie Region. Numerous analyses and reports oftenpoint to similar difficulties in implementing the circular economy. Therefore, as part of the project, we have developed an innovative approach to the way of coordinating activities for circular transformation – the CircuPuncture Model. We propose a completely new resource-based approach to circular transformation at the local level. The new approach is adaptive. We offer a complete set of tools to coordinate the region’s circular transition. The CircuPuncture Model can be used both at the level of the entire region (e.g. Lodzkie Region) or part of the territory coordinated by a specific network constituting the CTC in the first phase. In the case of the Lodzkie Region, we have prepared a co-governance model for CTC based on the partnership of Bzura and SLOM. However, CircuPuncture can also be implemented at the level of the smallest local government unit (in our case, a commune) and a single organization (e.g. university, enterprise, etc.). CircuPuncture is a complete set of tools and techniques for agreeing trade-offs among CTC stakeholders. CircuPuncture is a resource philosophy of setting resource missions and defining Circular Challenges and their implementation. CircuPuncture is easy to replicate anywhere in the world. This approach does not require the identification of difficult-to-access resource indicators. The CircuPuncture Model is based on: (1) real market information generated by the platform (RCBT) and (2) basic information regarding Circular Economy project activity of stakeholders in the region. The engine of circular change in the CircuPuncture Model are innovations created according to logic: “systemic problems need systemic solutions”. Circular Systemic Solutions are the core of the CircuPuncture Model.

The operational document for the implementation of the strategic principles outlined in the CircuPuncture Model, is the CircuPuncture Action Plan. It represents the equivalent of Circular Economy Action Plan. The proposed Plan serves as an initial stage for consultations and further development. The outlined Circular Challenges are broad and represent more of a categorization than specific steps ready for implementation. Such an approach allows taking small steps that build a solid foundation and start shifting from viewing the circular economy merely as waste management to adopting the 5R principles, then the 6R, and beyond. The last part of the report presents the entire concept in a graphical format as a roadmap towards circularity in any region.