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The initiative aims to reduce single-use plastics, including takeaway cups and plastic water bottles, while promoting a refill culture in island-based university campuses, schools, and local communities.
This objective was pursued through:
- Primary research on consumer attitudes, barriers, and motivations.
- Active student engagement as sustainability researchers and ambassadors within local communities.
- The integration of drinking water management and public refill stations (Mytilene) with consumer and hospitality-sector awareness activities (Rhodes and Mytilene).
The initiative is aligned with the broader strategic vision of the University of the Aegean to embed sustainability across education, research, campus operations, and community engagement. The University functions as a sustainability Living Lab, connecting scientific knowledge with real environmental and social challenges faced by island communities
- Undergraduate and postgraduate students
- Academic and administrative staff
- Café and takeaway business owners and employees
- Schools and educational institutions
- Local authorities
- Citizens and visitors of Rhodes and Mytilene
2025-2026: Preparation phase, development of partnerships, organisation of the “Back to the Tap” campaign, installation of a public water refill station on the Mytilene campus, development of QR-based information tools, and implementation of a pilot programme in schools.
2026: Full implementation of the initiative, including preparation activities, field research conducted in March 2026, initial statistical analysis, and dissemination of the first results.
Single-use plastics constitute one of the most pressing environmental challenges for the island ecosystems of the Aegean Sea. The extensive consumption of bottled water, particularly during the tourist season, places significant pressure on waste management systems and natural resources.
In response, the University of the Aegean implemented an integrated behaviour-change and reuse initiative combining two complementary actions on the islands of Rhodes and Lesvos.
The first action, “From Plastic to Sustainability”, was developed in Rhodes in the context of Global Recycling Day. Through a participatory research approach, students acted as field researchers, conducting a survey on water consumption habits and the use of single-use plastics. The survey was designed by academic staff from the Department of Primary Education.
Research was conducted among residents, employees, visitors, and local business owners, generating valuable evidence regarding perceptions and willingness to adopt sustainable alternatives. In partnership with the volunteer group “Beautifying Neighborhoods”, the initiative included a public art intervention, alongside the distribution of reusable cups and awareness materials.
Based on the survey findings, follow-up awareness campaigns have been planned to encourage the use of reusable containers and promote a local refill culture. Partnerships with businesses and local stakeholders were also established to support a more sustainable consumption model.
Beyond awareness-raising, the Rhodes initiative generated primary data that can be used to inform local policies and incentive schemes for reducing single-use plastics.
The second action, “Back to the Tap”, was implemented in Mytilene by the Department of Environment of the University of the Aegean as part of the University's environmental awareness strategy. The initiative focused on strengthening public trust in tap water and highlighting the environmental benefits of replacing bottled water consumption with reusable alternatives.
A public water refill station was installed on the University campus, accompanied by a QR-code-based digital information system. Users gained immediate access to water quality data, information on the benefits of refill practices, and estimates of the environmental footprint avoided through reusable bottle use.
At the same time, experiential educational workshops were delivered in schools across Lesvos. Students and teachers learned about the impacts of plastic waste, waste prevention practices, and the role of individual behaviour in environmental protection. A total of 107 students participated, using interactive learning tools and QR-code access to water quality information.
Overall, the initiative demonstrates an integrated approach combining research, education, citizen engagement, digital technologies, and practical infrastructure solutions to reduce single-use plastics.
The project also strengthened cooperation among the University, local authorities, schools, businesses, and civil society, creating favourable conditions for the long-term adoption of sustainable practices.
Furthermore, the initiative establishes a model that can be replicated across additional campuses of the University of the Aegean and other island communities. The Mytilene action has already outlined plans for the development of a wider network of public refill stations within university campuses and host municipalities.
The innovation of the initiative lies in transforming the University of the Aegean into a genuine Sustainability Living Lab, where teaching, research, and community engagement are directly connected to real environmental challenges.
The initiative combines:
- Participatory research with active student involvement.
- Sustainability education and awareness-raising for diverse social groups.
- Partnerships with businesses and public authorities.
- Digital information tools using QR codes.
- Quantification of environmental benefits derived from avoiding single-use plastics.
- Development of a local refill culture.
- Linking scientific knowledge generation with practical interventions in public and university spaces.
This approach enables the co-creation of solutions with local communities while enhancing the transferability and scalability of the model across other islands and Mediterranean regions.
Importantly, the innovation goes beyond infrastructure or data collection. It is rooted in social innovation, empowering students, citizens, businesses, and public institutions to become active co-creators of environmental transition.
Rhodes
- Europe Direct South Aegean
- AN.DO. S.A.
- Volunteer Group “Beautifying Neighborhoods”
- Local takeaway cafés and hospitality businesses
University of the Aegean Research Laboratories:
- Science Education and Environmental Education Laboratory
- Linguistics, Folklore and Literature Laboratory
- Applied Research for Environmental Education Laboratory
Mytilene
- Department of Environment, University of the Aegean
- Environmental Education, Communication and Awareness Laboratory
- Environmental Policy and Management Laboratory
- Local and Island Development Laboratory
- Water and Air Quality Laboratory
- Municipality of Mytilene
- Municipal Water and Sewerage Company
- Directorate of Secondary Education of Lesvos
- Local food service and hospitality businesses
Partners were actively involved throughout the research, implementation, awareness, and dissemination phases of the initiative.
Rhodes
- 3 faculty members and researchers involved in project design and data analysis.
- 21 students participated as field researchers and sustainability ambassadors.
- Volunteer artists from the “Beautifying Neighborhoods” group.
- 93 hospitality professionals participated in consultation and data collection activities.
Mytilene
- 4 faculty members and academic staff.
- 20 students acting as field researchers and sustainability ambassadors.
- 107 school students.
- 34 hospitality-sector professionals.
Student participation represents a core element of the initiative, transforming learning into an applied experience of research and community engagement.
Rhodes (Dodecanese, South Aegean Region)
Mytilene, Lesvos (North Aegean Region)
Social Engagement
- 337 citizens participated in the field survey in Rhodes.
- 127 local businesses engaged with the initiative and explored participation in a refill network.
- 107 students and teachers participated in educational workshops in Lesvos.
- Dozens of university students were trained and actively engaged as sustainability ambassadors.
Behavioural Change and Awareness
Rhodes
Survey sample:
- 244 consumers
- 93 business owners and hospitality employees
Key findings:
- 72% expressed strong concern about microplastics entering the human body.
- 88% stated that a €0.20 discount would be sufficient incentive to adopt reusable cups.
- 65% of business owners were willing to join a local sustainability network if supported by municipal incentives.
- 60% believed consumer behaviour can drive market transformation.
- 40% incorrectly considered recycling alone a sufficient solution for single-use plastics, highlighting a significant knowledge gap.
- Reusable cups and awareness materials were distributed, while policy recommendations for a local Refill Network were submitted to local authorities.
Mytilene
Survey sample:
- 107 students
Results:
- 66% were unaware whether local tap water is safe to drink.
- 64% did not know whether water quality is regularly monitored.
- 53% did not trust the quality of water available in their school.
- 80% would choose tap water if regular quality monitoring were clearly communicated.
- 90% acknowledged that plastics represent a significant environmental challenge.
- 38.3% did not directly associate microplastic pollution with bottled water consumption.
Survey among 34 hospitality businesses:
- 67% expressed low trust in tap water quality, mainly due to insufficient information.
- 63.3% would actively encourage tap water consumption if safety was verified.
- Only 33.3% currently offer tap water as an alternative option.
These findings not only document existing challenges but also identify specific barriers and motivations that can guide future interventions.
Environmental Impact
- Approximately 15,000 plastic water bottles were avoided.
- 183.6 kilograms of plastic consumption were prevented.
- Approximately 2,064.7 kilograms of CO₂-equivalent emissions were avoided.
These measurable outcomes provide clear evidence of the initiative's effectiveness and establish a benchmark for future monitoring and expansion.
Selected Media Coverage and Public Impact
https://www.stonisi.gr/post/107804/mathhtes-kai-mathhtries-sth-mytilhnh-epestrepsan-sth-vrysh
https://www.stonisi.gr/post/97934/gemise-to-mpoykali-soy-sth-vrysh-toy-panepisthmioy-aigaioy
https://www.deyamyt.gr/announcements/nea/pagkosmia-imera-neroy-2025
The initiative strengthened the role of the University of the Aegean as a driver of innovation, sustainability, and social impact across the Aegean islands.
Specifically, it:
- Strengthened connections between the University and local communities.
- Promoted interdisciplinary and inter-island collaboration.
- Developed environmental skills among students and school pupils.
- Enhanced cooperation with municipalities, schools, businesses, and civil society organisations.
- Generated valuable evidence for future policies aimed at reducing plastic waste.
- Created a replicable model for other island communities.
More broadly, the initiative advances a strategic objective of the University of the Aegean: to act not only as a producer of knowledge, but also as an active partner of island societies and a catalyst for sustainable transformation.
Future development will build upon the evidence already collected, the partnerships established, the expansion of refill networks, and the transfer of the model to additional university campuses and island communities.