Theodosia Bantouva-Papazisi,Chief Operating Officer at Thalis,published a significant intervention on the transition to a circular economy in our country in the Water&Waste magazine. 

The article titled "The next frontier for the transition to a circular economy: the creation of Circular Cities" highlights the challenges Greece faces in achieving circularity and proposes a realistic plan for circular transformation open to technological and regulatory developments that will lead to the creation of Circular Cities.

This holistic design is based on three central axes:

• Reorganizing the solid waste management cycle,
• Implementing holistic programs in the water cycle and
• Developing an electronic platform for holistic urban management.

To move in this direction, it is necessary to incorporate circularity principles into urban planning, enhance the awareness of citizens and other stakeholders, and foster a focus on environmental innovation.

Bantouva-Papazisi emphasizes, among other things, that «the starting point for municipal authorities is to define a sustainable vision on a long-term basis that simultaneously includes a spatial awareness of the challenges and opportunities for the city in the perspective of transitioning to a circular economy. Urban plans should incorporate circularity principles and facilitate the implementation of central axes."

Furthermore, it requires increasing awareness among citizens and other stakeholders. Through the philosophy of co-creation, authorities can engage citizens and stakeholders throughout the entire life cycle of circular transition, from initial planning to implementation, decision-making, and governance. This cultivates a common sense of responsibility and participation.

Finally, to implement the ambitious circular transformation plan, cities must leverage a well-trained human workforce and strengthen the focus on environmental innovation. Therefore, it is advisable to develop collaborative relationships with local educational institutions and research organizations. In the past decade, Greece has improved its position in eco-innovation indicators, but now it must take the next step through entrepreneurial exploitation, thereby boosting economic growth and enhancing employment prospects at the local level.»

Read the article here:

https://water-waste.gr/site/3d-flip-book/%CF%84%CE%B5%CF%8D%CF%87%CE%BF%CF%82-163-%CE%BF%CE%BA%CF%84%CF%8E%CE%B2%CF%81%CE%B9%CE%BF%CF%82-2023/