The departure point of this workshop is an EU project that is developing training materials, including both theoretical modules and tools, for practical implementation of circular economy and sustainability solutions in Higher Education curricula and in companies (KATCH_e).

KATCH_e stands for “Knowledge Alliance on Product-Service Development towards Circular Economy and Sustainability in Higher Education” and involves partners from Portugal, Spain, Austria and Denmark (www.katche.eu). This is a 3-year EU funded project that was launched in January 2017 and is part of the ERASMUS+ programme of Knowledge Alliances, aiming to address the challenge of reinforcing skills and competences in the field of product-service development and new business models for the circular economy and sustainability, with a particular focus on the construction and furniture sectors.

In our research, we take a broad understanding of the role of designers engaged in circular economy and sustainability and recognize it as increasingly strategic.

In the workshop, the KATCH_e project will be presented and a number of topics for discussion will be proposed to the audience, which resulted from the developmental work and reflection.