Summary
There is a significant knowledge gap regarding circular economy principles, especially among businesses, consumers, and students. While the need for sustainable practices grows, many still lack the awareness and understanding required to embrace circular approaches.
To bridge this gap, an educational and interactive exhibition was developed to introduce circular economy concepts in an engaging, hands-on format. The exhibition provides a comprehensive overview of circular economy principles through interactive displays, real-life examples, videos, and practical demonstrations. Its goal is to educate visitors and inspire them to rethink their consumption habits and business practices.
- Location: Tallinn Business Incubator, Poldri 3/1, 10154 Tallinn, Estonia
- Duration: February to December 2026
About the Organization/Partner
Tallinn Business Incubator is a dynamic entrepreneurial hub dedicated to supporting local companies in their growth journey. The incubator provides resources and guidance to startups looking to scale and established businesses aiming to expand into new markets. As part of its mission to foster innovation and sustainability, the Tallinn Business Incubator Foundation commissioned the creation of a circular economy exhibition. This included:
- Concept development for the exhibition
- Construction and installation of displays
- User manuals and informational signage
- Interactive instructions for visitors
The exhibition is located in the new building of the Tallinn Business Incubator, serving as a permanent educational resource for visitors, program participants and event attendees.
The Challenge
The rise of consumer society has led to an unsustainable use of natural resources, bringing with it a host of environmental, social, and economic challenges. Key issues include:
- Growing waste generation
- Pollution
- Depletion of natural resources
While the circular economy is often perceived as an environmental issue, it is, in fact, a systemic change that impacts production, consumption, and societal values. At its core, the circular economy promotes:
- Sharing
- Borrowing
- Reusing
- Repairing
- Refurbishing
- Recycling
By extending the lifecycle of materials and products, the circular economy helps create a balanced future where the economy and environment work in harmony rather than at odds.
However, a significant knowledge gap persists. Many individuals and organizations remain unaware of circular economy principles or how to apply them. This gap presented an opportunity to introduce the topic more widely to diverse target groups, including businesses, consumers and students.
The Solution
To address the knowledge gap, the Tallinn Business Incubator developed an interactive, educational exhibition in partnership with Heya Visual and a team of circular economy experts. The exhibition was designed to help visitors understand circular economy principles in a practical and engaging way.
The development process involved sifting through extensive background information to distill the most important topics, practical insights, and clear guidance for visitors. A key priority was showcasing real-life examples of companies successfully implementing circular economy principles, presented through videos, texts, and physical products.
The exhibition adds significant value for visitors to the incubator, introducing the foundations of the circular economy to companies participating in its programs and training, as well as guests attending events, conferences and seminars. It encourages visitors to reflect on how they can apply circular economy principles in their daily lives and business activities, and what impact their choices have on the future.
Ultimately, the exhibition emphasizes that the circular economy is not just for businesses or policymakers, it is a collective responsibility that concerns everyone. By demonstrating the impact of individual choices, it underscores that our shared future depends on everyone’s contribution.
The exhibition was a collaborative effort, involving:
- Heya Visual Team: Kaia Lõun, Jüri Lõun, Raivo Randoja, Sigrid Randoja
- Circular Economy Experts: Margit Rüütelmann, Kaia Lõun
- Estonian Circular Economy Companies Association
- Tallinn Strategic Management Office: Katarina Papp, Liina Kanarbik
- Tallinn University of Technology: Simo Ilomets
- Zero Waste Estonia: Marianne Sepp
- Industry Partners: Borg, Eesti Pakendiringlus, EKT Ecobio, Green Gravels, Killumeister, KIUD, Leemans Greencircle, Neular, Mulieres, RAIKU, Räpina Paper Mill, Tallinn Waste Recovery Centre, Weerec, Woola
- CCC Project Partners
The Results
The new exhibition at the Tallinn Business Incubator has become a valuable experience for anyone seeking to understand the opportunities of the circular economy and its role in shaping a resource-efficient future.
Visitor Feedback: Mirell Merirand, an entrepreneurship and economics teacher at Tallinna Vanalinna Hariduskolleegium, shared her experience:
“In today’s world, it’s quite challenging to teach young students something new because they consume so much information online. Therefore, visiting interactive exhibitions like this is incredibly important. They allow students to read, touch, and better understand why the circular economy is so crucial in today’s world.”
“The exhibition provided a lot of food for thought and helped build an understanding that the proper use of materials matters. Several students mentioned afterwards that it made them reflect on their own consumption habits.”
“Young people often don’t think much about where things come from, who makes them, or how raw materials are produced. The exhibition definitely gave us inspiration to update the content of our economics course and introduced new materials and ideas that we can use in the future.”
“The exhibition was held in a beautiful location and was very well designed and presented. It was convenient and enjoyable to visit.”
Conclusion / Key Takeaways
The exhibition has been well-received, particularly given its limited budget. Visitors and educators alike have praised its design, interactivity and educational value.
With additional funding, the exhibition could be enhanced with more interactive elements and gamification to further engage visitors. This would make the experience even more immersive and impactful.
Call to Action
Interested in learning more or visiting the exhibition? Contact the Tallinn Business Incubator:
- Email: kristel@inkubaator.ee | info@inkubaator.ee
Business Model/Financing
The exhibition was created and financed with a budget of €29,715 as part of the Creative Circular Cities (CCC) project.
Visuals, Charts, and Photos
Explore the exhibition visually:
- Photo Gallery: Google Drive Folder
- Related News: Interreg Baltic Sea Region Article
