EVENTS: KONAVOSKI KRUG: JOINT EFFORTS TOWARD A MORE SUSTAINABLE KONAVLE

Through the “Konavoski krug – Sustainable Living Festival,” the Konavle region has once again demonstrated that sustainability is not merely a topic of discussion, but a definitive strategic direction for local community development.
The festival, organized by the Municipality of Konavle with the support of the Entrepreneurship Centre of Dubrovnik-Neretva County, brought together citizens, producers, and experts to exchange knowledge and create opportunities for new, sustainable practices in daily life and the economy.
Activities were carried out as part of the CIRCUS project, funded by the Interreg IPA ADRION program, which focuses on developing concrete solutions for sustainable resource management in local communities.

The festival program included activities tailored to various groups, from children to entrepreneurs, aiming to introduce sustainable living principles through practical examples.
Special emphasis was placed on everyday practices such as utilizing food surplus, household composting, and sustainable gardening, providing participants with applicable skills for more responsible resource management.
Children’s workshops further encouraged environmental awareness from an early age, while adult participants engaged in educational sessions linking sustainability to specific lifestyle and business practices.

The core professional segment of the program featured lectures and a panel discussion dedicated to the circular economy and sustainable resource utilization.
Marino Stanković spoke about the circular economy as a development model that enables the creation of new value within the local community, emphasizing the shift in perception from waste to resource.
Ivica Sivrić presented concrete possibilities for utilizing olive and grape pomace, highlighting their application in energy production and natural fertilizers.
The panel discussion “Olive and Grape Pomace – Waste or Opportunity for Konavle?” featured Karmen Kutnjak and Perica Pušić, who emphasized the necessity of connecting stakeholders and launching concrete initiatives.

The central event of the manifestation was the “Green Market” (Zelena placa), a fair of traditional products held at the Monastery in Pridvorje.
The fair gathered local producers and visitors, reaffirming the importance of short supply chains, local production, and the preservation of tradition as the foundations of sustainable development.

The activities carried out clearly highlighted that sustainability represents a tangible development opportunity for Konavle.
The local community possesses both the resources and the knowledge; moving forward will depend on strengthening stakeholder networks and developing concrete future projects.