Educação socioambiental a partir da economia circular: integrando ambientes formais e não-formais como modelo conceitual para valorização de recursos orgânicos

Abstract

Organic solid waste represents a significant portion modern society’s waste. However, from the circular economy (CE) perspective it is possible that these materials are no longer considered as waste, but as organic resources, given their nutritional and economic potential. Starting from the perspective of CE and education as a tool that redefines and creates new values, this study aimed to develop a conceptual model of actions and guidelines for socio-environmental education focusing on the lifecycle of food with the aim organic resource valorization. The study involved participants from a municipal market and high school students at a state public high school of a midsize Brazilian city. Qualitative data collection involved semi-structured interviews. Within this context and the perspectives of the actors, socio-educational proposals were structured in a participatory way to optimize the food lifecycle. As a result, the structured conceptual model proposes the integration of multiple actors, from the local community and formal teaching environments, into a non-formal process designed for day-to-day use with a view to promoting CE attitudes and thus sustainable development.