Engaging consumers in circular lifestyles: Analysing innovation patterns through a virtual exhibition designed to counter the throw-away society

This study analyses the collection of 30 Good Practices (GPs) contributing to the implementation of Circular Economy (CE) from eight Central European regions, which are displayed in the Virtual Exhibition developed by project partners of the ‘NiCE’ project. The study aims to understand the diversity of solutions, organizational backgrounds, and specific attributes that contribute to their adaptability and long-term viability. Employing mixed methods, including content analysis and statistical techniques, the findings confirm that successful innovative solutions require broad provision from a wide range of stakeholders: businesses, NGOs, and municipal organizations. These initiatives actively shift focus away from the throw-away society by prioritizing the refuse, reduce, reuse, and repair value retention options. The analysis revealed four main attributes of highly effective GPs: their contribution to closing resource loops, their significant social impact, systematic innovation and their high level of replicability. The successful adoption of the GPs is shown to be a function not of technical maturity, but rather of local governance structures and systematic issues. The primary long-term challenges identified for sustaining these initiatives include financing, achieving market fit, addressing behaviour change, and overcoming administrative friction. Cities must successfully leverage their endogenous resources, including committed human capacity, strategic logistics, blended financing, and strong market activation through education and community empowerment.