29 October 2026. Students from the Smart Building Engineering (IP24I group), Construction (SP23N-1, ST24I group), Building Systems Engineering (SS24I group) and Transport Logistics (TL23N-1, TL24I group) study programmes, accompanied by lecturer Indrė Sprogytė-Bredelienė, took part in an educational trip to the VILNIUS TECH Sustainability Centre. The trip was organised as part of the ‘Green Logistics’ module.
During the educational trip, the students learnt about the activities of the VILNIUS TECH Sustainability Centre, the principles of sustainability, the concepts of the circular economy and their practical application. The students were introduced to sustainable solutions relating to waste recycling, the use of secondary raw materials, the efficient use of resources, renewable energy and environmental technologies.
The students were particularly fascinated by the practical examples showing how waste that, at first glance, appears to be useless can be transformed into new, practical products. The possibilities for plastic recycling were demonstrated, along with the use of recycled plastic in 3D printing and the adaptation of recycled tyres for use as surfacing on sports pitches and in sports halls; works of art created from used skateboards were also presented. The students also learnt about solutions where various shapes and materials are created from paper waste using starch or mycelium.
The examples of the use of biological materials were also fascinating. The students were amazed by the possibility of producing a material similar to artificial leather from a tea fungus. A laboratory was also presented where food waste is used to generate energy. These examples helped to illustrate that sustainability encompasses not only waste sorting, but also innovation, the efficient use of resources and the application of new technologies.
Students were introduced to a system that enables the assessment of the potential for installing solar power plants in Vilnius, taking into account various environmental and technical parameters. This example was particularly relevant to students on the Smart Building Engineering, Construction and Building Systems Engineering degree programmes, as it enabled them to link the principles of sustainability with building design, energy efficiency and modern engineering solutions. For students on the Transport Logistics degree programme, this system helped them to better understand the importance of energy efficiency, infrastructure solutions and the assessment of environmental impact. This demonstrated that green logistics encompasses not only the organisation of transport, but also the integration of sustainable infrastructure and energy solutions into all logistics processes.
The educational trip gave students the opportunity to gain a broader understanding of the principles of the circular economy and green logistics. The students were able to see for themselves that logistics encompasses not only the transport and storage of goods, but also the movement of resources, waste collection, the return of waste to production processes, and the more efficient use of available resources.
Feedback from the students confirmed that the visit was both interesting and useful. The students emphasised that the practical examples helped them to better understand the theoretical concepts and to see how the principles of sustainability are applied in a real-world setting. The trip to the VILNIUS TECH Sustainability Centre gave students the opportunity to link their theoretical knowledge of ‘Green Logistics’ and other subjects they are studying with practical examples; it deepened their understanding of sustainability, the circular economy, the use of secondary raw materials, waste recycling and innovative environmental technologies, and helped them to better understand the importance of sustainable solutions in modern logistics, construction and engineering.
We would like to express our sincere thanks to Monika Linkevič, Senior Specialist at the VILNIUS TECH Sustainability Centre, for her interesting and comprehensive presentation of the centre’s activities, the practical examples she provided, and the opportunity she gave our students to gain a closer insight into sustainability solutions and their practical application. We hope that this visit will lay a solid foundation for further collaboration, including the organisation of joint educational activities, the sharing of knowledge and experience, and the future development of joint applied research and other projects related to sustainability, green logistics and innovation.