Design Collaboration for Sustainable Business

The Interreg Europe project DeCo aims to improve local, regional and national development policies through exchange of experience, innovative approaches and capacity building in sustainable and circular design, production and manufacturing. The project contributes to targets set by the EU for reducing emissions. It supports the Commission’s proposal to make sustainable products a norm in the EU, boost circular business models and empower consumers for the green transition. European countries and regions have already developed models for sustainable production based on the principles of circular economy. There are also many good examples of using product and service design for circularity.



Nevertheless, the big potential remains unused, and many methods and models have been piloted but are not yet widely implemented. There are also knowledge, skills, and precious experiences that have not yet been spread and can be shared among European stakeholders. In practice, the objectives of the DeCo – Design Collaboration for Sustainable Business project are achieved by:



- Identifying good practices in sustainable and circular design

- Identifying good practices in sustainable production and manufacturing

- Sharing experience and knowledge between industries in European regions.



As a result of the project, the knowledge and understanding of the potential of design methods to promote sustainable production and manufacturing will be increased among different stakeholders and target groups. The project's key role is to support and develop local, regional and national policy instruments and programmes. The project also implements and supports the European Green Deal through the above-mentioned means.