HOOP: National action manuals for local uptake and replicability
Updated on 05.08.2025
The purpose of this manual is to guide the user through the process of engaging stakeholders in their cities’ and regions’ biowaste value chain. It is a step-by-step guide of how to identify stakeholders, understand their motivations, bring them together for exchange and discussion, find opportunities for action, and mobilise for change.
This guide will also introduce the user to how to do a baseline assessment of your urban circular bioeconomy and explain how the assessment can be useful. With an understanding of the baseline situation and the key stakeholders, the reader can learn about various technologies and ways to valorise the biowaste, as well as how to find financing to implement them.
Relevance for Circular Systemic Solutions
The National Action Manuals for Local Uptake and Replicability target the urban biowaste and wastewater valorisation value chains across multiple sectors including waste management, bioeconomy, public utilities, agriculture, and biotechnology. Its practical value for cities and regions lies in offering replicable, step-by-step guidance on assessing baseline situation, mapping biowaste systems, engaging stakeholders (e.g., via Biowaste Clubs), identifying viable valorisation technologies (e.g., anaerobic digestion, fermentation of used cooking oil, biochar from pruning waste), and securing funding for implementation.
In addition to the core guidance and case examples, the document also includes practical templates in the annex that significantly enhance its usability for cities and regions implementing Circular Systemic Solutions. This resource is most helpful in the "Map" and "Design" stages of Circular Systemic Solutions implementation.
How to use this tool or method
The tool is available as a downloadable PDF document and serve as a structured, step-by-step guide for cities and regions looking to advance circular bioeconomy initiatives.
The manual is designed for sequential navigation, meaning users can follow the chapters in order, starting with foundational concepts such as the circular bioeconomy and national contexts, then moving into practical steps like mapping the baseline, engaging stakeholders, designing valorisation routes, and finding funding opportunities.
CO2 neutrality/decarbonisation
<5 000
large 500 000-200 000, medium 200 000-50 000, and small cities 50 000-5 000
large metropolitan area >1.5 million, metropolitan area 1.5 million-500 000
predominantly urban regions, intermediate and predominantly rural regions, refer to TERCET typology NUTS 3 region
e.g. commercial, residential, service, industrial
