The HUA is a dynamic Greek University, specialising on issues related to the quality of life, spanning the full spectrum of Sustainability, Resource Efficiency, Waste Management and Circular Economy. Its peer-reviewed journal publications and projects per academic staff ranks it among the first three academic institutes in Greece. Through its research and education activities, HUA has built an extensive collaboration network with other academic/research institutes, the private sector and local/central authorities at both national and international level, which allows it to quickly develop, transfer and disseminate best practices in the country, in all its areas of activity.
The project is carried out by the “Sustainable Environmental Management & Technology- SEMT” research group, which has extensive experience on issues of waste management and circular economy, with special emphasis on food waste, organic waste and biological treatment, WEEE, LCA, EPR and recycling, waste prevention and resource efficiency.
The Head of SEMT, Prof. K. Lasaridi has served as President of the Hellenic Recycling Agency (2010-2013), has over 150 publications in peer- reviewed Journals and Conference proceedings and has led/participated to >45 projects (incl. 7 co-funded by the LIFE Programme and 1 by the Urban Innovative Actions).
The experience of SEMT, and its strong record in project participation, coupled with its support in infrastructure, will facilitate the development of a solid project structure, a sustainable knowledge management strategy, and effective, scientifically sound interventions. SEMT has considerable expertise in the development of waste prevention initiatives (focusing on food waste) and waste management systems. Indicatively, HUA is partner in the LIFE REWEEE project (LIFE14 ENV/GR/000858), for the prevention and preparing for reuse of WEEE, LIFE-F4F (LIFE15 ENV/GR/000257), aiming to develop an innovative process for the safe transformation of source separated food waste into animal feed, LOWINFOOD (H2020), aiming at the multi-actor design of low-waste food value chains, and UIA A2U Food project, aiming at holistically addressing food waste in Heraklion, Crete.
