Kaunas University of Technology Institute of Environmental Engineering (APINI) started international institutional partnership project: Circular Economy – Closing Material and Energy Flows in Industry Efficiently.
The project is carried out by Lithuanian-Swiss cooperation programme “Research and development”. Kaunas University of Technology Institute of Environmental Engineering and Vilnius Gediminas Technical University (VGTU) in cooperation with University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland (FHNW) aims to identify and systematically improve resource efficiency options in selected areas of relevant Lithuanian industrial sectors.
During this program five Lithuanian researchers will conduct internships, acquire practical skills and knowledge in Switzerland, addressed challenges and problems will be discussed in two thematic seminars and project results will be presented in the final conference performed in Lithuania.
Project integrates knowledge and competence of project participants in several scientific disciplines: engineering, environmental sciences and economy. The cooperation aims to create a competitive advantage, reduce resource consumption and environmental impact by applying resource-efficient and cleaner production techniques as well as physical material, energy, water and by-product exchange methods.
The project will evaluate the material and energy flows associated with production of plastics, non-recyclable products and packages and drinking water supply systems. In many industries materials and energy is a major input. Thus, it becomes an important factor in the efficient use of resources in the context of increasing value of the product or service.
Moreover, the project will generate scientific excellence in the field of industrial ecology for resource conservation, pollution prevention and creation of industrial symbiosis links based on the Swiss partners experience by means of identification of good practices, transferring knowledge (tools for identification of efficiency options) from Swiss to Lithuanian partners, and its application in relevant case studies.
