Roadmap to Circular Universities (R2CU)

General Overview

The R2CU project promotes sustainability in European universities by integrating circular economy principles into their operations and academic life.

The main objective of the project is to develop practical strategies for improving resource efficiency, reducing waste and fostering a culture of repair, reuse and recycling across university campuses.

Purpose and Significance

Universities consume large amounts of resources and generate substantial waste. This project addresses the urgent need for more sustainable practices in higher education institutions, which are a driving force of society.

By moving away from linear models of consumption, R2CU fosters collaboration between students, researchers and administrative staff in order to implement circular solutions that benefit both the environment and institutional efficiency. The project aligns closely with EUniWell’s commitment to sustainability, well-being and societal transformation.

A drawing of a hand holding the planet, surrounded by various symbols representing ecology and well-being, e.g. a bike, wind turbines, trees, hearts. The drawing is set against a background photo of green grass.

Implementation Method and Timeline

R2CU is structured around four interlinked work packages (WP):

WP1: Case Studies

Each partner university will explore a key area of circularity:

  • Repairability of electric and electronic equipment (Santiago de Compostela)
  • Metal recycling in electronic devices (Birmingham)
  • Paper waste reduction strategies (Cologne)
  • Water re-use in campus operations (Murcia)

WP2: Research and Institutional Database

A shared platform will collect and compare circular economy practices, enabling collaboration and policy development. This will be developed in the autumn/winter semester of 2025. 

WP3: Student Survey

A cross-campus survey will assess student awareness of circular economy issues and guide future engagement efforts. The survey will be carried out in the autumn/winter semester of 2025.

WP4: Roadmap and Dissemination Workshop

A policy roadmap and a final workshop at the University of Santiago de Compostela are planned for the spring semester of 2026 in order to share the project’s findings and to establish consequent collaborations.
 

Expected Outcomes

By promoting collaboration between students, academics and university services, the project is expected to generate long-lasting impact through concrete tools including a digital knowledge platform, an inter-university survey model and a roadmap for integrating circular economy principles into university life. 

These outcomes will not only guide institutional change and improve sustainability practices across EUniWell universities, but also lay the groundwork for future research collaborations, policy development and student-led initiatives in the field of environmental well-being.

 

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