The UPZENT project, funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research under grant number 033R239A, ran from 1 September 2019 to 31 August 2022 at the University of Trier’s Umwelt‑Campus Birkenfeld. Its aim was to transform an up‑cycling centre concept into a transferable business model that promotes resource‑efficient circular economy practices. The project combined product development, process optimisation, and organisational design with a strong emphasis on social, economic and ecological sustainability.

During the project, partners continuously refined product design, manufacturing processes and quality and safety standards. A library of waste streams was created, cataloguing approximately 100 different types of industrial residues such as wood, cardboard and textiles. From these materials, more than 2 500 up‑cycled items were produced in collaboration with social workshops. The product portfolio grew to about 20 market‑ready items, including furniture, bags and accessories. Standardised procedures for material analysis, design, workshop licensing, order processing, production and marketing were documented, enabling other social enterprises to adopt the model without the need for extensive initial investment.

The business model was evolved through successive iterations of the Business Model Canvas. The original canvas was extended to include the Social Business Model Canvas, the Circular Model Canvas and the European Social Economy Canvas, resulting in a comprehensive framework that integrates social impact and environmental performance. This framework was used to analyse existing up‑cycling enterprises and to define a methodology for developing circular business models. The project also conducted a sustainability assessment in three stages: a qualitative review against selected UN Sustainable Development Goals, a quantitative synthesis of social, economic and ecological indicators, and a detailed study of five flagship products. The latter examined greenhouse‑gas emissions saved by up‑cycling compared with thermal disposal, although specific numerical savings were not reported in the summary.

Financially, the project received 503 611 € in direct funding and an additional 100 722,20 € project package, totaling 604 333,20 €. Expenditures amounted to 397 718,71 € (excluding the package), covering personnel costs, procurement, travel and administrative expenses. The project timeline was maintained despite internal delays and the COVID‑19 pandemic, demonstrating resilience in project management.

Collaboration was central to UPZENT’s success. The core academic partners were the University of Trier and the Hochschule der Bildenden Künste Saar. Practical partners included the AQA Gemeinnützige Beschäftigungs‑ und Qualifizierungs‑Gesellschaft of Neunkirchen and the Förderverein Arbeit, Umwelt und Kultur in the Aachen region. Together, they established 30 local company collaborations around the Neunkirchen and Herzogenrath sites, focusing on cascading waste use and raising awareness of circular practices. These partnerships also facilitated the creation of a network of up‑cycling workshops, enabling knowledge transfer and potential scaling of the model.

The project concluded with a comprehensive report detailing the developed processes, product catalogue, and sustainability metrics. While a full market test of the business model was not yet conducted, the extensive standardisation and documentation provide a clear pathway for replication and international expansion. Initial contacts were made at the International Upcycling Network Conference, indicating prospects for broader dissemination. The project coordinator identified the formation of a start‑up as a viable option for further development, leveraging the established relationships with social workshops and the proven product and process framework.