Our initiative is called "KOMPOSTO", taken from the literally translated word "Compost". The aim is to create a new culture through education, on the importance of composting food waste instead of throwing nutritious material away. It promotes waste-free circulation and awareness & it reinforces new habits in waste management. Composting in schools helps keep food waste out of landfills, which is acknowledged as one of the best and easiest ways to combat the climate crisis.
National
Cyprus
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It addresses urban-rural linkages
It refers to a physical transformation of the built environment (hard investment)
No
No
Yes
As a representative of an organisation
Name of the organisation(s): C.I.P. CITIZENS IN POWER Type of organisation: Non-profit organisation First name of representative: Aspasia Last name of representative: Christodoulou Gender: Female Nationality: Cyprus Function: Strategic Initiative Specialist Address (country of permanent residence for individuals or address of the organisation)<br/>Street and number: Alexias 24 Town: Lakatamia Postal code: 2304 Country: Cyprus Direct Tel:+357 96 619661 E-mail:aspasia@citizensinpower.org Website:https://citizensinpower.org
'KOMPOSTO' aims to raise awareness, and create a culture of food waste and how that could be reduced and re-used in different ways.
As an NGO, and feeling our responsibility towards society and communities, we have decided that it is important, especially nowadays, to create cooperation frameworks between different bodies, public and private organizations, companies, and communities to develop actions that create a positive social & environmental footprint. The goal of 'KOMPOSTO' - is to introduce & merge this initiative, in every family, and in every body of society, to teach them how and implement the 'KOMPOSTO' initiative in their daily life. This is done by mobilizing, sensitizing, and strengthening the communities and all these cooperative frameworks that exist in them. Our current target, of course, is the schools. We believe there is a different dynamic by engaging the schools since they can influence every family to include the compost initiative in their daily routine. By training educators, teachers (kindergarten, primary, and secondary schools), and students, of all ages, a new culture can be cultivated. With Phase A (training), Phase B complements and integrates the knowledge into action. Introducing composting bins (ready-made and build-in options) we invite educators with their students to start using the proposed methods of composting, to re-create organic nutritious fertilizer, that can be used in other running school activities (connecting to nature through gardening) and departments (permaculture). The outreach of 'KOMPOSTO' in many schools is critical as we envision creating composting communities. These could be at any scale (small, medium, large), in neighborhoods, municipalities, villages, urban & rural areas, and farms, and finally introducing processing food plants in smaller countries & islands like Cyprus where interregional terrain access is limited, transporting cost is very high, and of course environmentally inconvenient.
Recycling Economy
Food-waste management
Education & Culture
Organic Fertilizer
Sustainable awareness
The establishment of the following objectives secure the sustainability of the 'Komposto':
1. Development & refinement of outreach strategies and conduct stakeholder mapping to ensure effective communication, engagement & integration with the public, target groups, networks and communities of practice to adapt Komposto’s methodologies & learning processes during and after the piloting period.
2. Provision of tailored (policy) recommendations for schools, communities, municipalities, villages and other interested participants in the program to continue & upscale Komposto’s methodologies. It is important to design & establish a policy that stands for food-waste & composting, through authorities and public bodies involved.
3. Formation of a community of practice, wherein potential participants can identify collaboration and mutual learning opportunities & long-term sustainability.
4. Continuous & constant learning, training and development of the existing methodologies, exchange of existing knowledge. Strong partnerships with other similar initiatives overseas can support and maintain the learning process.
5. Creation of research opportunities in local higher education institutes & collaborations with EU & International HEI on food-waste management/ composting developing and producing innovative products, with the involvement of different communities, students, Teachers, Young People, and the general public.
6. Established processing food plants in communities will create a constant circulation of a production line for fertilizers, expanding and associating different industries. Starting from education, creating a new market to industries such as export, agriculture, transport, health, economy, social and many more. It allows growth not only in the local economy but also to nearby countries and others.
7. Enhancement of the use of cycle-economy and enrichment of the culture & habits for younger generation as well as the older ones.
'KOMPOSTO' initiative (particularly its application as a school competition as one of the actions we are currently running) has a unique ability to bring these values together in order to create an open, dynamic and sustainable society based upon environmental protection, equality and intersectionality.
By establishing an annual competition between schools we are opening a dialogue and opportunities for new synergies, exchange of knowledge and experiences.
One of Komposto's priorities, is to open conversational grounds through different communities, in different levels of the society (schools, authorities, municipalities, villages, NGOs, informal & formal bodies, public and private sectors). The experience of composting food-scraps its a recreational process, at which parties involved are applying the know-how that will be transmitted through educational & learning material developed, but also through other existing examples and experiences. This allows room for the art sector to contribute to the design and appearance of such places called "Composting Sites" in each school, neighborhood or community. It promotes social values since this to happen, requires the contribution of different societal inputs. The process of composting is a long, sensitive one, which requires good caring, patience and collaboration. Participants are expected to understand the different types of composting (worm farming, bokashi & cold), prior using any of them, respect the methods and allow room for improvements and feedback. Finally, this initiative helps students adapt a sustainable and recycling culture forming their own small communities within their schools. Growing up with a sustainable and environmental education, students will learn how to become active citizens in their societies and promote environmental awareness and sustainability within the wider community.
'KOMPOSTO' is an open invitation to everyone, to participate, contribute and can it be applied by all age ranges. Language Barriers could be bridged by translating the methodologies, and learning outcomes. Participation in the initiative is free of charge and open to all who wish to be involved. Accessibility to 'Komposto' is easy since the initiative does not require any form of special mobility requirements or specific cognitive and physical skillsets to be completed. In terms of social inclusion, the initiative offers a unique opportunity for students and other participants (i.e. seniors or marginalized) from geographically remote locations, those facing socioeconomic disadvantages or are traditionally marginalized due to their ethnicity/sex to participate equally through their daily involvement and as part of their attendance in school or community. This can ensure that diverse groups are involved in the process throughout the duration of the initiative. Inclusion, will be a natural process when Komposto initiative takes place in schools. It gives a common value, a common goal to students and it's completely hands-on. For example, diversity in schools (also communities when applicable) naturally can integrate and students will share emotions of willingness, passion to take part and win the competition - together as a group. The risk here is that due to diverse socio-economical backgrounds some students might not be able to offer rubbish/food to this process. To overcome this challenge it is important for educators to highlight that this is a group, and not an individual activity. Therefore, 'Komposto' is inclusive to all citizens and communities, including a multi-level engagement on the different stakeholders involved, promoting all EUs ideals and goals. It is important for all authorities in this case, to be engaged, supportive & inclusive. Our Initiative matters to all households and all habitants of the whole island, and beyond.
'KOMPOSTO', invites all citizens to be involved, and it challenges existing habits and culture at the same time. It's a process that will happen in stages and many phases. Since schools are the initial target as our first activity, all members, educators, teachers, students and mostly their related families will be exposed to new ideas and new learning methods. Eventually, they will be forming a new culture, firstly in an educational level and secondly at a societal level. Introducing composting into citizens, especially the youth, will enhance their skillsets and knowledge, in innovative ways to reuse food waste and create organic fertilizer to use elsewhere. Currently, the lack of adequate attention towards the impact of food loss on climate change amongst youth is evident, as there hardly exists any data on their perception of this issue. Youth lack the know-how and experience to provide added value in alternative food networks by embedding sustainability and circular economy practices. On the other hand, civil society will transform into groups of people and communities that will be aware and culturally motivated toward circular economy practices and benefits. It will support the initiative by providing financial resources and other support (public engagement, cultivating new culture, and other resources such as materials, locations dedicated to composting, learning hubs, workshops, fairs, and new job opportunities).
The initial design & implementation of 'Komposto' in schools involves local expertise in composting (we are already in agreement with Riverland Bio Farm in Cyprus & The Compost collective in New Zealand - as our knowledge providers). We are supported by a local DIY store (Superhome Center as our compost bin provider), and by a local newspaper (Phileleftheros as our dissemination partner). We have been in the pilot testing with Local Schools (primary and secondary) implementing the composting methods. Other important stakeholders are School Principles, Teachers with environmental sensitivities, Teams of volunteers (Students) to implement the initiative. Appointed different team roles for each student, a co-operation is formed and team spirit is promoted. Our goal is to get municipalities, communities and ministries involved (such as Education, Environmental, Cultural, Transport, Agriculture, Interior, Public works and others) as well as, HEI, other private institutes, and private sector organizations to support and engage with the initiative. It is important to create policies and standards from the appropriate authorities, followed by other parties involved. At a European level, synergies with other countries, such as Greece, Romania, Denmark. From Eurostat, recent research (2020) shows Cyprus as the 1st country in food waste by member state in the EU, followed by Denmark and then Greece. Collaboration with these states could appear and launch along the lines of the same initiative, interchanging methods and developing local products and standards which eventually will evolve, be introduced and examined in a European level.
Food loss and waste have direct and indirect environmental costs and benefits; costs due to the use of resources and energy embedded in the lost quality/quantity of food, the emissions related to the production phase, as well as the subsequent management of the wasted amounts; benefits, on the other hand, can be acquired from the potential bioenergy produced from food waste and products generated from the waste flow of food production. Currently, the lack of adequate attention towards the impact of food loss and food waste on climate change amongst youth is evident, as there hardly exists any data on their perception of this issue. People, lack the know-how and experience to provide added value in alternative food networks by embedding sustainability and circular economy practices. Education, industry & government are the key role actors for communities to adapt to new behavioral habits. For ‘Komposto’, multiple stakeholders & beneficiaries are brought together to combine their knowledge, practices & expertise in composting. Our partners’ know-how (Cyprus, New Zealand), enables us to differentiate & integrate new compost methodologies, which forms the practical aspect. Our team with external experts & collaborators, from Denmark & Greece, will help us build non-formal, living labs, open co-creative workshops, and cross-sectoral activities, and online tutorials related to composting and environmental education. The aim is to endow education & communities, with knowledge & understanding of composting methods & benefits. These will motivate people to establish and accelerate their composting communities, thus making them capable of developing their sites and making their compost. Eventually, the industry, initially start-ups & innovation institutes will design innovative products by utilizing unharvested or 'ugly' crops, and scraps leading to the minimization of food waste not only in primary production but in all its phases.
'Komposto' is currently a local initiative in Cyprus, and it's considered innovative in society and schools, since other initiatives involving composting include a basic layer of information regarding the process but with no validated results or further development. 'Komposto' initiates teams in schools (educators, students) to be hands-on toward the process and the results of the actual composting. Measuring the weight of food waste, and comparing it to the food scraps that are compostable material, creates an index of statistics throughout the years passing and gains knowledge of the food that could be reused in composting; therefore, there is a reduction in food waste. Having in mind the total waste that could eventually circulate instead of ending up in landfills, it generates needs to establish policies and bring new era in the local culture of circular economy, food waste & climate change. It is also innovative because it requires low cost for a household, a school, or a community to be involved. Therefore it is accessible to everyone, instead of the standard composting sites/ plants that are usually high-cost and only monitored by waste management companies. Enhances the engagement of the public towards the environment, and attracts citizens to reconnect to nature since the product of composting is soil, which will end up in nature (either by bringing together a neighborhood to plant a garden, create a park in an urban area or enhancing agricultural professionals and farmers to use less chemical compounds and assimilate to organic fertilizers coming straight from composting). This opens the stage for HEI, agricultural companies and other industries, to engage in designing, developing and producing innovative products, with the involvement of different COMMUNITIES, STUDENTS, Teachers, Young People, AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC.
Starting from schools, 'Komposto' could be replicated in societies in and out of Cyprus. The methods are the same, the conditions are the same. Quantity varies, depending if a household decides to produce its compost or if a community wants to establish a site dedicated to composting. Geographically, Cyprus is located at the crossroads of the West and East, especially the neighboring countries (Greece, Islands, Jordan, Israel, Lebanon, Egypt and Turkey) are countries that carry similar temperaments, cultures, traditions, and diversities. We also have very similar climate conditions, and therefore, this allows an easier establishment of composting communities in these countries, taking into account similar climate conditions will allow expected results and behavior of the compost produced. The process is standard in all types and methods, which makes it much easier for communities to evolve. Communities could then settle mutual agreements and collaborations towards the same vision. Policies and standardizations can be applied to each case, and new lines of products could be exported to new markets. Starting again from schools as an example, different collaborations through schools in different countries could apply the same methodologies, processes, and learning outcomes to enrich findings and results faster. Results will then be used by different institutions to produce further studies, experiments, conclusions, facts & develop knowledge that companies, design industries, innovative entities could then use to improve & develop new products that are along the lines and protocols of sustainability.
'KOMPOSTO' combines learning theory & knowledge with practical application & implementation. Each stakeholder will engage in the initiative according to their expertise, knowledge and resources. 'Komposto' will build different methodologies to respond to the needs of interested/associated stakeholders, learners and participants. Schools, for example, will be provided with an integrated approach of knowledge (with the support of our experts), learning games, workshops, and hands-on training courses of a bundle called "COMbo" and they will form teams and appoint roles so they can start building their 'Komposto' community within each school. These communities will then be evaluated for their quality using different quantitive indicators (i.e. evaluations, questionnaires, and actual measurable results). Each year, teams will win prizes and receive awards depending on their overall score. This will attract publicity through social media, word of mouth, and it will create opportunities for other competitions (Regional, European or International). At the end of each year, an annual report will be published with findings, results, knowledge gained, fun-facts, etc. Zooming out on a bigger scale community, whether it is a village, a neighborhood or a city, or even the whole country, different approaches and methods will have to be established depending on the needs. A series of feasibility planning & studies, such as initial design development, budgeting, mockups, smaller-scale pilot testing, and any other financial, geographical, architectural, legal or social research should be carried out before designing the required infrastructure (including learning processes, knowledge transmission via different methods, dissemination, learning by doing, publicity etc). Therefore, authorities, public bodies, private companies, agricultural specialists, and other stakeholders involved in these stages are the ones to join forces for this approach to be supported by the communities.
According to UNDP's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) there is a list of the many global challenges we are facing. 'KOMPOSTO' is taking into account these challenges, and evaluating the local needs. This initiative is focusing mainly to Climate Action, Responsible Consumption & Production, Peace, Justice & Strong Institution, Sustainable Cities & Communities, Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure, Decent Work & Economic Growth, Good Health & Well-being, Quality Education, Partnerships for the Goals, and Life on Land. Promoting 'KOMPOSTO' in schools, in communities, in the local society of Cyprus, it initiates fresh synergies for stakeholders from completely different backgrounds to collaborate for a common goal. A new cultivated culture towards food waste and production will turn daily habits to a more sustainable living. The process of learning and engaging to composting, expands the views and possibilities of new sustainable products, provides opportunities to education, industries, communities, and economic growth. People will have the chance to reconnect to nature since they will be engaging with a natural process of composting and its final product (organic nutritious soil). Communities and habitants will regain their sense of belonging through the teams and smaller composting communities that will be created. "Designed for all" is one of Komposto's slogan, since we take into account urban & rural needs, and it is free for everybody! 'KOMPOSTO' is a learning process itself in the direction of a sustainable product using life-cycling thinking.
'KOMPOSTO's development plan includes 3 main pillars. The 1st is to create awareness through education (from kindergarten to high school). This can be implemented by visiting the local schools & providing information and awareness of what composting is and how to put theory into practice. The 2nd, will be to engage schools through an engagement motivational letter (an agreement with terms and conditions, with responsibilities, awards, benefits, and other useful details) that teams in schools commit to receive further training & establish a composting site to run in their community. Each school will use a platform provided by C.I.P to record results online. At the end of the year, as our 3rd pillar, participant schools scored higher than 70% will be called to develop a presentation and they will compete with other schools representing categories (primary, secondary etc). A committee of experts (jury's team), will provide feedback and vote for the winners. Prizes will be financial support to the school to develop & implement further ideas related to sustainability. Site visits, trips & further training are included in the award’s scheme. During this phase, learning games, workshops, how-to videos, infographics, other demonstrations, and hands-on training courses will be provided to each school. All teams will go through evaluation, for their quality using different quantitive indicators (i.e. evaluations, actual measurable results). At the end of the year, an annual report will be published with findings, results, knowledge gained, fun facts, etc. Throughout the running year, promotional material will be used to support the initiative's campaign such as social media, press, festival day dedicated to sust. solutions, and sust. utility products (seed pencils, straws, water bottles, hats from recycled cloths). Our partnerships with Danish Youth Team, Copenhagen Business School & Greece’s Fabric Republic & SustChem Consulting SA are joining ‘Komposto’ in their countries.
The development of competencies of the next generation of professionals and organisations is a key factor for behavioral change towards a sustainable culture and mindset. To achieve a meaningful transition to sustainability, there is a need to educate young people on current environmental, societal and economic problems, as well as provide them with the tools and directions for green innovation and sustainable problem-solving along with the circular economy.
Our initiative lies in the argument that schools and communities eventually could play a catalytic role in converting food loss and waste into innovative business ideas, having the ability to create environmental value.
‘Komposto’ is encouraging positive behavioral change in youth, society and other government key players by simultaneously raising awareness on food loss, climate change and land and soil degradation. This way, young people will learn how to deal with the food loss issue -which inevitably leads to enormous eco-system problems- by creating new job opportunities, such as Sustainability Audit.
