Demonstrating Circular Manufacturing in Action: The CIRCULOOS Pilots
Turning circular manufacturing concepts into real industrial practice requires testing them in real-world environments. Within the CIRCULOOS project, three pilot demonstrators have been developed to validate how digital tools, data-driven decision-making, and collaborative supply chains can enable more sustainable manufacturing systems across Europe.
These pilots focus on three sectors—plastics, wood, and leather—and involve manufacturing SMEs located in Spain, the Netherlands, and Hungary. Each pilot explores how circular strategies such as material reuse, recycling, and supply chain collaboration can transform existing production processes into more sustainable and resource-efficient systems. By analysing current operational models (AS-IS scenarios) and designing improved circular workflows (TO-BE scenarios), the pilots demonstrate how companies can reduce reliance on virgin materials, minimise waste, and improve environmental performance.
The demonstrators also integrate several key components of the CIRCULOOS ecosystem, including the CIRCULOOS data platform for process monitoring, the GRETA sustainability assessment tool for lifecycle analysis, and advanced optimisation and digital twin technologies. Together, these tools enable companies to collect operational data, evaluate sustainability indicators such as CO₂ emissions and costs, and compare alternative production scenarios to identify the most sustainable and efficient solutions.
By validating circular strategies in real manufacturing environments, the CIRCULOOS pilots provide valuable insights into how SMEs can transition toward data-driven, circular supply chains. The lessons learned from these demonstrators will help refine the CIRCULOOS platform and serve as a blueprint for scaling circular manufacturing practices across additional industries and companies.