Transition to Circular Societies: The Role of Education – TICHE Academy

On Friday, April 26, 2024, between 12 and 15 p.m. EEST, a Greece Multiplier Event with the title “Transition to Circular Societies: The Role of Education” was organized by Athens University of Economics and Business (AUEB) and held at the Troias Amphitheatre, AUEB, in Athens, Greece. The event was organized under the Erasmus+ TICHE Academy and aimed at raising awareness regarding the shift towards circular societies, which signifies a pivotal shift in our pursuit of sustainable development as it entails the efficient utilization of resources, the reduction of waste, and the mitigation of environmental impact.

Education plays a pivotal and indispensable role in this paradigm shift by cultivating within individuals a sense of accountability, ingenuity, and sustainability. This event investigated the convergence of education and circularity, examining how businesses and educational institutions can enable people to catalyze the transition towards a circular economy. Through an extensive array of viewpoints contributed by educators, policymakers, and industry leaders, participants acquired valuable knowledge regarding the profound capacity of education to mould a future that is more environmentally sustainable.

The event was opened by Prof. Phoebe Koundouri, Professor at the at the Athens University of Economics and Business and Technical University of Denmark, President of the of the European Association of Environmental Resource Economists, Director of the of the Sustainable Development Unit at the ATHENA Research Centre, Chair of the of the SDSN Global Climate Hub, and Co-Chair of SDSN Europe, who gave a keynote speech on sustainability transition. Then, Ms. Lydia Papadaki, PhDc, researcher, ATHENA RC, and Athens University of Economics and Business presented the TICHE Academy and its key results and outcomes.

Then, four businesses from the food, construction, textile and fashion industries presented their work, aiming to showcase the applicability of the circular economy framework. Using their innovative business models, Mr. Nasos Makios, European Climate Pact Ambassador and Environmental Manager in the family business “KLIMIS”, presented how KLIMIS is implementing successful circular bioeconomy for more than 30 years; Ms.Laura Kyriazopoulou, co-founder at FoodBag and Ms. Antigoni Chariessa Vasilopoulou, Sales & Sustainability Specialist at FoodBag, presented how food waste can be eliminated; Mr. Jimmy Nicolaides, Co-Founder Swap planet, showcased how Swap planet is empowering parents to embrace sustainable practices by offering a clothing, book, and toy exchange platform that saves them money while reducing waste; Ms. Valentina Vasilatou, Owner & Designer at VV Conscious Collections, who through her designs, she advocates for fashion as a force for innovation, conservation, and awareness. Additionally, she creates abstract patterns of sea creatures, introducing new animal prints into the fashion world. Mr. Konstantinos Liatzas, Environmental Engineer, MSc “Environment & Development,” and Mr. Jason Giraud, PhDc at CastorC, presented the initiative Piraeus Maker Space, which provides state-of-the art tools available to citizens and innovators.

The event came to a close with a panel discussion in which the previously mentioned circular companies and hubs shared their experience in terms of their path so far towards a circular economy, the obstacles that circular Greek enterprises face, and how the educational frameworks influence consumer behavior to become more circular in nature.