On 4 December 2025, the EBICOS (Every Bite Counts Schools) project was presented at the business and science forum “Development of the Circular Economy in Lithuania and the EU”, held at the Alytus Faculty of Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution.
The annual forum brings together representatives from academia, business, public authorities and non-governmental organisations to discuss the development of the circular economy, innovation and practical solutions for more sustainable resource management. This year’s programme focused on sustainable food systems, digitalisation, science-business collaboration and innovative approaches to reducing waste.
Food Waste in Schools – A Key Circular Economy Challenge
As part of the forum programme, Aurimas Uldukis, Director of the Alytus Regional Waste Management Centre (ARATC), and Daiva Banaitė, Head of Sustainability and Strategic Development at Economic Consulting and Research (EKT), delivered a presentation entitled “Food (Kitchen) Waste in Schools of the Alytus Region: Current Situation, Challenges and Opportunities.”
The presentation introduced participants to the current situation of food waste in schools across the Alytus region, the objectives of the EBICOS project, and its data-driven approach to food waste prevention.
Speakers presented the findings of the project’s baseline assessment, discussed the main factors influencing food waste generation in schools, and demonstrated how data analysis can support better meal planning, more efficient catering processes and evidence-based decision-making.
Sharing Experience with a Wider Professional Audience
Presenting the EBICOS project at the forum provided an opportunity to share the project’s first insights with a broad professional audience, including representatives of municipalities, educational institutions, waste management organisations, the food sector, research institutions and innovation agencies.
In addition to the EBICOS presentation, the forum addressed a wide range of circular economy topics, including innovation in the agri-food sector, biotechnology projects, science-business cooperation, digitalisation and public support instruments for innovation. During the second part of the event, participants worked in thematic groups to develop practical solutions for real-life challenges presented by companies and community organisations.
This interdisciplinary setting enabled the EBICOS project to reach stakeholders beyond the education and waste management sectors, strengthening dialogue with organisations working in sustainability, innovation and the circular economy.
Prevention as the First Step Towards Circularity
The presentation highlighted that the circular economy begins not with recycling, but with preventing waste in the first place. Schools play a particularly important role in this process: they prepare hundreds of meals every day while simultaneously shaping the eating habits and attitudes of future generations.
The EBICOS project demonstrates that combining reliable data, innovative technologies and cross-sector collaboration can significantly reduce food waste while creating a more efficient and sustainable school food system.
The project’s participation in the national Circular Economy Forum contributed to the dissemination of EBICOS results among key target audiences and strengthened awareness of practical, evidence-based solutions for preventing food waste in schools.