The Circular Economy has been identified as one of the solutions for reducing demand for raw materials and minimising negative externalities. In this context, plastics have been identified as a priority for projects of this nature, since this economy's principles can significantly contribute to optimising the material flow chain and minimising negative externalities. ESE - P. Porto is a Higher Education institution whose mission is centred on Education and the Training of Teachers and Educators, and has since its inception invested its attention in aspects related to Environmental Education (EE), Sustainability and Valuing Natural Heritage. ESE - P. Porto has also paid special attention to updating the technological means and resources it mobilises in its educational activities and classroom activities, particularly in the areas of 3D printing, 3D modelling and their incorporation into teaching activities. However, these printing processes involve the use of polymers whose industrial manufacture has negative environmental impacts and also contributes to an increase in the accumulation of plastics.

This divergence between a process with many recognised advantages and its environmentally negative consequences is an identified problem. Another problem identified is related to the fact that there is a lack of contact between the general public and the by-products resulting from the transformation of the waste produced. It is considered that social participation in all stages of a material's life cycle will contribute to a more circular economy. This project aims to help minimise these problems by proposing the implementation of a portable and energy-sustainable system for recycling plastic waste to produce the filament that will be used in 3D printing. The plastic recycling chain is structured around the following stages: collection of used plastic, shredding, production of filament and
3D design/printing. Data will be collected throughout the project to monitor it and assess its main impacts. The collection and analysis methods will be quantitative and qualitative. Questionnaire surveys will be used and interviews will be conducted with school headmasters and those involved in the actions, in which audio and video recordings will also be made.

Main objectives
The project has the following general objectives:

1. To train and empower teachers in circular economy topics and in specific topics that respond to the National Environmental Education Strategy 2020.
2. To disseminate the use of 3D in the classroom as an effective teaching tool for environmental education.
3. Sensitise schoolchildren to the Sustainable Development Goals and the importance of Circular Economy models
4. Raising awareness among schoolchildren and students in higher education of the importance of adopting rational consumption practices and environmentally sustainable behaviour.
5. Encourage the replication of similar EE actions by other educational agents and in other geographical areas
6. Promote changes in behaviour

The reCICLO+ project promotes the articulation of knowledge between the areas of Environmental Education for Sustainability and digital manufacturing technologies. This approach, in itself innovative, is reinforced by the fact that the project is based on the use of emerging technologies, which are actually very simple to operate and user-friendly. However, they are generally unknown to the project's target audience (EB students and teachers) and generate reluctance to use them to solve everyday problems.

The project has great educational potential. By dealing with circular economy issues related to the problem of plastic waste, the actions to be carried out in schools make it possible to address curricular content from different areas of knowledge: Biological Sciences (impacts on biodiversity and environmental sustainability), Physical and Chemical Sciences (properties of different types of plastics, energy efficiency and solar energy), Mathematics (three-dimensional geometric visualisation), Design (3D drawing for children) and Technologies (use of 3D printers and laser cutting/CNC). In this way, the project involves the dynamisation of STEAM activities.

The different digital manufacturing technologies allow students to get directly involved in the creation process, from design to final production, allowing them to follow a true project work methodology.