BIMTECH partners with European and Thai circular economy proponents

Using funding from the European Union’s Erasmus+ program, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh-based BIMTECH has partnered with European and Thai universities to teach educators, students, and entrepreneurs about circular economies that reuse or recycle products, decrease the extraction of virgin materials, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change.

Entitled “Knowledge development for circular economy transition (KODECET) – creating a digital centre of excellence in universities in Asian emerging markets (India and Thailand),” the project began on January 2024 and ends in December 2026, according to a recent press release.

“This project intends to address the limited knowledge and tools in the sustainability and circular economy domain,” the press release said. Experts from the University of Jyväskylä in Finland, FH JOANNEUM in Graz, Austria, the Nirma University Ahmedabad in India, and Prince of Songkla University and Payap University in Thailand are participating.

The centers of excellence would develop courses and certificates, and establish digital mediums to disseminate these resources digitally across broader populations.

Participants in the program held an opening meeting at Payap University in Thailand in late January. The Center for Social Impact at Payap University also shared case studies of three Thai social enterprises participating in circular economies.

They included Poopoo, a community company that recycles “elephant-semi-digested” into paper; Amravati Wellness a business that practices traditional Indo-Thai mental and physical care; and Free Bird Café, a zero-waste social Enterprise that sells products manufactured by local women. ce/jd