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SMILE CITY – Sustainable materials for innovative, low emissions applications in the circular city

SMILE CITY – Sustainable Materials for Innovative, Low Emissions Applications in the Circular City

SMILE CITY is a European initiative designed to develop and showcase systemic, forward-looking solutions for transforming cities into zero-emission, circular urban environments. The project focuses on the creation of sustainable urban infrastructures—including up to 100 km of bike lanes and 20 e-bike charging stations—built using recycled materials sourced from urban waste, such as construction debris, end-of-life tires, and used electric vehicle batteries.

Key innovations include prefabricated charging stations made with recycled concrete and equipped with solar panels produced from recovered materials, along with the use of molded rubber from recycled tires to produce urban furniture (e.g., lane dividers, bollards, and rubberized asphalt), enhancing both sustainability and road safety.

Objectives

SMILE CITY aims to:

  • Develop integrated circular solutions to support the transition toward carbon-neutral, non-toxic, and sustainable cities by 2050.
  • Improve resource efficiency and reduce the environmental impact of current urban waste recycling methods.
  • Strengthen Europe’s strategic autonomy in the field of secondary raw materials.

Key Activities

The project includes a comprehensive set of actions:

  • Eco-design and eco-accounting practices
  • Environmental and social impact assessments (S-LCA, LCC)
  • Deployment of digital tools for performance monitoring
  • Demonstration projects and training activities
  • Policy dialogue with public authorities
  • Communication and outreach campaigns
  • Stakeholder engagement and territorial networking

Partnership

Coordinated by the European Tyre Recycling Association (ETRA – France), SMILE CITY brings together over 30 partners, including research institutes, local authorities, private companies, universities, and European organizations. Italian partners include Fondazione Ecosistemi, the University of Turin, the Polytechnic University of Turin, the National Research Council (CNR), the Municipality of Lucca, and the Metropolitan City of Turin.

The project fosters international collaboration across Europe, with partners from Belgium, Spain, Greece, Turkey, Poland, Serbia, the UK, Bulgaria, and Slovenia.

Project duration: 4 years
Project website: Under development
Contact persons: Laura Sorge, Sabina Nicolella
Thematic area: GPP – Sustainable and Circular Public Procurement
Keywords: Circular cities, Recycled materials, Zero emissions, Sustainable infrastructure, Circular economy

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