Invitation 

A lot of discussion has been initiated in policy forums regarding the transition from the traditional linear to a circular economic approach. Today, circular flow of income shows financial and non-financial interrelations among economic agents (e.g. firms, households and state) and natural environment through green GDP and satellites accounts. The most effort has been made to eliminate waste production from such agents without taking into account new opportunities which arise from waste production. What hinders this transition as well as to identify new opportunities is the interdependence of the individual companies to other micro and macro markets that also need to be redesigned to target the support of circular principles. Such markets need revisiting even in organized entities like eco-clusters, eco-industrial parks, or any other ecological symbiosis of businesses where wastes of one consist primary sources for other economic activities. These emerging markets face several economic, social, legal, and administrative barriers and opportunities.

This Symposium provides an opportunity for those interested in any level of Circular Economy and Sustainability applications. From individual business or industrial zones to national, international or global policies that will make feasible the effective application of circular economy principles for achieving a Sustainable Development. Researchers, practitioners and entrepreneurs are invited to submit both empirical and theoretical papers that are broadly consistent in any of the Symposium’s special topics. An ultimate goal will be to encourage researchers to examine the concepts of circular economy under a holistic scale approach.

A major innovation of this Symposium is the bridging of engineering and economic knowledge to support the effective advance of circular and sustainability principles bringing together the practical engineering knowledge with the economic implications in order to produce efficient policies. The Business and Environmental Technology Economics Lab of the Department of Environmental Engineering, the spearheading unit in circular economy of Democritus University of Thrace, together with prominent INFER organization, will support this interdisciplinary event.

Symposium Topics

The Symposium is open to anybody involved in these research areas, including both young and experienced researchers, Ph.D. students, post-doctoral researchers, and professionals from business, government, and non-governmental institutions.

Organizing Committee

• Arauzo-Carod Josep-Maria, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Spain
• Kostakis Ioannis, Harokopio University, Greece (Chair)
• Nikolaou Ioannis, Democritus University of Thrace, Greece
• Oberst Christian, German Economic Institute, Germany
• Papaefthymiou Spyros, Technical University of Crete, Greece
• Tsagarakis Konstantinos, Democritus University of Thrace, Greece (Chair)
• Turcu Camelia, University of Orléans, France

Scientific Committee

Important dates

Extended Abstract or Full Manuscript Submissions: The submission period has ended.
Notifications: 10 June, 2020
Registration: The registration period has ended.
Online Symposium: 1-3 July, 2020