Women Entrepreneurs Show How Circular Ideas Become Real Business Solutions

How can used cooking oil become a candle? How can seeds become a shared community resource? How can construction waste turn into new value instead of ending up in landfill?

These were some of the inspiring examples presented during the webinar “Women Entrepreneurs in Circular Economy”, organised on 2 June 2026 as a joint initiative of the Enterprise Europe Network Thematic Group Women Entrepreneurship and the Thematic Group Sustainability.

RAPIV took part in the event to present the achievements of the WE.Circular project and to share practical tools developed to support women entrepreneurs in their circular and digital transition. The webinar gathered participants from the Enterprise Europe Network, business support organisations and stakeholders interested in sustainability, innovation and women-led business.

The event started with an introduction to the work of the two EEN Thematic Groups and their role in supporting SMEs, promoting cooperation and encouraging the exchange of practical knowledge and good examples. This was followed by a presentation of WE.Circular and its main results, including the WE.Circular Learning Network, the training programme “Smart and Sustainable Business for Women Entrepreneurs”, the WE.Circular Labs, the six circular business models, the Virtual Toolbox and the Transnational Strategy for Women Entrepreneurs’ Circular Transition.

A special focus was placed on three women-led circular businesses that took part in the WE.Circular Innovation Contest and pilot testing activities.

OilRight from Romania showed how used cooking oil can be transformed into natural, recycled and non-toxic candles and DIY kits, while also creating dignified jobs for persons with disabilities.

Semínkovna EDU from the Czech Republic presented an inspiring model where seeds are not treated only as products, but as shared resources that circulate through education, communities and local seed libraries.

AuTerra Materials from Slovenia demonstrated how construction and demolition waste can become reusable resources through mobile on-site recycling, reducing landfill, transport emissions and material loss.

The examples clearly showed that circular economy is not only a technical concept. It can start with very simple and practical ideas: collecting waste oil, sharing seeds, reusing materials, educating communities or creating new partnerships. At the same time, these ideas can bring real environmental, social and economic value.

Through its participation, WE.Circular contributed to raising awareness of the role of women entrepreneurs as active drivers of the green and circular transition. The webinar also confirmed that with the right skills, support, networks and visibility, women-led businesses can turn sustainable ideas into practical solutions with impact.