**Background**

Kaunas Region Waste Management Center (Kaunas RWMC) directly deals with waste that comes from households across the region. The large dimension waste collecting sites (LDWCS) accumulate more waste than planned. Kaunas RWMC widened the network of “Giveaway” spots in LDWCS to encourage the exchange of unnecessary items that are in good shape. Giving them a second life by bringing them to reuse is considered a better way to discard things than recycling. Still, many don’t know about this publicly available free option. Kaunas mechanical-biological waste treatment plant (MBT) sorts mixed household waste and extracts more recyclable materials from it each year so they wouldn’t end up in landfills. That means people still do not sort waste correctly.  
The efficiency of waste management depends on multiple factors but the most obvious one is the quality of primary waste sorting at home. The national environment protection exam held for the first time in 2022 confirmed the fact that the public’s knowledge of waste and circular economy is mediocre. Exam organizers stress the importance of environmental education at schools but adults should know more too – both groups answered exam questions incorrectly. We believe that we can shape sorting habits starting from the school bench and creatively encourage children to understand the importance of household sorting which is: less non-recyclable products end up in landfills; cleaner environment; encouraging creativity through reusing materials; energy consumption reduction.

**Challenge**

The goal of the challenge is to find innovative ways to educate children about problems related to waste, its management, and circular economy. While some initiatives are teaching about sustainability, waste management and prevention are not fully addressed. Kaunas Region Waste Management Center seeks to become a constant provider of educational information on the issue and hopes to become an inspiration for others. Student teams are encouraged to come up with an interesting, informative, and continuous education at schools about waste management.

This is a document from a Institution or University that proves that the Learner has specific knowledge and/or has taken University grade courses.

Transcript of Records

Motivation Letter

Kaunas University of Technology

School education on conscious consumption and waste disposal

How can environmental education at schools change people’s minds about consumption and waste disposal?

The effects of human consumption on communities and the environment have become increasingly apparent over the last several decades. Sustainability is not confined to a single industry, community, or geographical region. Consequently, countries, cities and separate regions are slowly beginning to prioritise the idea of implementing sustainable practices in their development plans.

Circular economy

**Background**

As we try to achieve the UN goal to become carbon neutral by 2050, obviously the participation of public and private actors is crucial. They transform the energy sector with new regulations and modern technologies. It is becoming greener, more decentralized, and empowers consumers more than ever. Consumers can produce, store, and even share renewable electricity with each other, they can offset their carbon footprint, switch to biogas and more.  As the world moves towards decarbonization and the increased adoption of renewable energy sources, digital technologies play a crucial role in empowering consumers to take control of their energy usage and make more sustainable choices. Consumers have more opportunities than ever before to access information (with the help of smart meters) and manage their energy usage through digital solutions. However, consumers are still not exploiting their full potential - their engagement in energy sustainability is still relatively low, and many people are not taking full advantage of the available digital tools.

**Challenge**

Ignitis Group is looking for innovative solutions that leverage digital technology to increase consumer engagement in energy sustainability. This might include developing new apps, platforms or other digital tools that can educate and empower consumers to make more informed decisions about their energy usage, encourage to switch to renewable energy sources, participate in energy communities, etc. Student teams are urged to think outside of the box and come up with innovative solutions that would help consumers to become more sustainable.  
To develop effective solutions, teams will need to consider the latest trends in digital technology, consumer behavior, and energy policy. It's important to not only create digital solutions that are user-friendly, but also to make sure they are able to motivate consumers to take action and make changes in their energy consumption habits. The goal is to create digital solutions that are not only effective in increasing consumer engagement but also easy to use, accessible to a wide population, and able to drive real behavioral change towards energy sustainability.

Consumer Digital Engagement for Energy Sustainability

How can we empower consumers to make more sustainable choices through digital solutions?

Energy presents a fundamental challenge shared by cities and regions across Europe as well as globally, characterised by the ‘trilemma’ of seeking to achieve secure supply, affordability, and environmental sustainability. Tackling this trilemma involves maximising efficiency across the system, from the generation of clean energy to power buildings and transportation, the storage and distribution of energy when and where it is needed, and the smart consumption by end-users.

Member university

Kaunas University of Technology

Member university

Kaunas University of Technology