YouRban

Urban cocreative, sustainable and inclusive ecosystem, for the recycling of reinforced polymers on-the-truck

YouRban is a pioneering initiative that fosters a vibrant urban ecosystem dedicated to the recycling and upcycling of materials, with a focus on reinforced polymers from local sources. This project brings together citizens, artists, designers, architects, small-scale producers, artisans, and Urban Factories to create a collaborative environment. It aligns with the New European Bauhaus and the Green Deal, aiming for a balance of aesthetics, environment, sustainability, and inclusion through innovative design and manufacturing. This encourages a rich dialogue across various cultures, disciplines, and demographics.

In two European cities, Milan and Barcelona, both part of the EU’s Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities Mission, YouRban establishes a local, flexible production system. This system is underpinned by two pilot projects that leverage a Neighborhood Participatory Approach and Collaborative Digital Tools to design new objects.

The initiative features a 10-day event centered around a mobile plant housed in a truck. This mobile plant tours the city, welcoming all community members. Experts offer knowledge and training, citizens share their needs and expectations, and artists contribute art-inspired solutions through residencies. Urban Factories also join in, supported by a Cascade Funding mechanism.

YouRban champions social sustainability by promoting inclusion, work-life balance, human-centered innovation, engaging marginalized groups, fostering knowledge sharing, and creating job opportunities. From an environmental perspective, it aims to reduce waste and transportation impacts, lower CO2 emissions, and reduce reliance on critical raw materials. Economically, it opens up market opportunities for European manufacturers, ensuring the project’s sustainability and lasting impact on the city beyond its conclusion.