As part of the Erasmus+ project “Climate Wise Schools and Students”, participants in the mobility hosted by I. Osnovna Škola Čakovec, Croatia, took part in a workshop with Humana Nova, a social cooperative based in Čakovec.

The activity offered students and teachers the opportunity to discover how environmental sustainability, the circular economy and social inclusion can be connected through practical and innovative initiatives.

Humana Nova is a social enterprise that works with textile waste management, reuse, recycling and sustainable textile production, while creating employment opportunities for people with disabilities and other socially excluded groups. Its approach combines environmental, social and economic objectives.

During the workshop, participants learned about the environmental impact of textile waste and the problems associated with excessive consumption and fast fashion. They discovered how discarded clothes and textile materials can be given a new life through reuse, redesign and recycling instead of becoming waste.

The activity introduced participants to the principles of the circular economy, showing how materials can remain in use for longer and how new products can be created from materials that would otherwise be thrown away. Humana Nova's circular model includes the collection and sorting of textiles, reuse and donation, the production of industrial cleaning cloths, redesign and repurposing, and recycling.

The practical nature of the workshop encouraged participants to think creatively about how everyday objects and materials can be transformed rather than discarded. This hands-on approach helped make the concept of circular economy more understandable and connected it with real-life situations.

Another important aspect of the activity was social inclusion. Participants learned how Humana Nova combines environmental action with employment opportunities for people with disabilities and other groups facing barriers to employment. In this way, sustainability was presented not only as an environmental issue, but also as a question of social responsibility, equality and community development.

The workshop was particularly relevant to Climate Wise Schools and Students, as it connected several of the project's key themes: responsible consumption, waste reduction, recycling, sustainable production, creativity and inclusion.

It also encouraged students to reflect on their own consumption habits and to consider simple actions they can take in their daily lives, such as buying responsibly, reusing clothes, repairing damaged items, donating unwanted textiles and avoiding unnecessary consumption.

For the international Erasmus+ group, the experience was an excellent opportunity to discover a real example of sustainability in practice and to exchange ideas about how schools and communities can contribute to more responsible lifestyles.

The workshop with Humana Nova showed that small changes in the way we use and value resources can contribute to a more sustainable and inclusive society.

Reuse. Redesign. Recycle. Include.

Climate Wise Schools and Students – “Change the climate, change the future.”