The implementation of the CIRCULARIS project has officially begun! Funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe Programme and coordinated by the Research Center of the University of Piraeus (UPRC), CIRCULARIS brings together research institutions, industry representatives, public and regional stakeholders, and technology and certification experts from across Europe to accelerate the circular transition of the food service sector.
The project is driven by a clear vision: to make circular economy practices in food services measurable, digitally enabled and scalable. CIRCULARIS will explore and demonstrate innovative approaches that can help businesses reduce waste, use resources more efficiently, strengthen circular business models and adopt more sustainable and data-driven practices. By combining digital technologies, reliable data, behavioural approaches and practical solutions, the project aims to support the transition towards a more resilient and sustainable European food system.
The journey officially started with the CIRCULARIS Kick-off Meeting, hosted by the University of Piraeus. The meeting brought together the consortium partners to establish a common vision, discuss the priorities ahead and lay the foundations for close collaboration throughout the project. Particular attention was given to the real-world environments where CIRCULARIS solutions will be demonstrated, including the Cycladic islands, the Capo Milazzo Marine Protected Area in Italy, and the food-retail environment in Cyprus. These diverse settings will allow the project to explore circularity across different territorial, environmental and business contexts.
CIRCULARIS benefits from a strong and multidisciplinary European consortium, bringing together complementary expertise in circular economy, digital technologies, data and interoperability, behavioural science, certification, environmental monitoring, policy, communication and stakeholder engagement. The consortium includes the University of Piraeus Research Center (Coordinator), Aarhus University, the University of Oslo, Cyprus University of Technology, TÜV AUSTRIA HELLAS, AMP Capo Milazzo, the Cyclades Chamber of Commerce, Best Value Ltd, ZELUS and Zerofect.
Together, the partners will work closely with businesses, public authorities, local stakeholders and other actors to develop and test solutions that are not only innovative, but also practical, accessible and adaptable to different European contexts.
With the kick-off meeting marking the beginning of this collaborative journey, CIRCULARIS is ready to turn its vision into action and contribute to a more circular, sustainable and resilient European food service sector.