The Department of Environmental Engineering was established at the Technical University of Crete (P.D. 232/1995, G.G. 134/22-6-1995/vol. Α') and admitted its first students in the Academic Year 1997-1998. The School of Environmental Engineering, which incorporated the former Department (G.G. 119/28-5-2013/vol. Α'), was established in May 2013.

In June 2021 the School of Environmental Engineering was renamed “School of Chemical and Environmental Engineering” (G.G. 2348/03-06-2021/vol. B')

Today, the Chemical Engineer and the Environmental Engineer are called on to undertake a leading role in developing new technologies and materials, in the restoration, protection and management of the environment while bearing in mind the ultimate aim of sustainable development. 

The objectives of the School of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Engineering are the training of Certified Engineer scientists with high qualifications, skills and background to serve the modern scientific research and production process in cutting-edge issues related to the fields of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Engineering.

The mission of the School of Chemical and Environmental Engineering is to train engineer scientists with high qualifications, skills and background to serve modern scientific research and productive processes in the fields of:

• design and development of chemical and biochemical processes for the installation, operation and control of modern, economical and environmentally friendly industrial infrastructure,
• measuring, monitoring, evaluating, rehabilitating/improving the natural and structured environment and tackling the problems arising from human activity, with the aim of sustainable development,
• development and improvement of added-value chemicals and of wide-range or specialized application products,
• restructuring/readjustment of production and processing industrial facilities and the primary agricultural sector through adaptation and application of new know-how,
• materials technology/nanomaterials with environmental and energy applications,
• efficient and environmentally friendly exploitation of natural resources, secondary treatment and utilization (refining, remodeling, synthesis, etc.) of fossil fuels / biofuels,
• generation, conversion, energy saving, and development of energy cycles of minimal or zero carbon footprint, hydrogen energy, thus contributing through the educational and research process to the long-term vision of a resilient European zero carbon footprint by 2050 (Green Deal),
• research and innovation that will address critical national and global environmental issues and contribute to the United Nations action to promote emerging Nature-Based Solutions, Green Infrastructure and the broader ecological engineering sector in the context of a sustainable and circular economy,
• recycling, waste and biomass treatment (biorefinery) for the production of high added- value products (e.g. bioplastics), energy materials (e.g. biodiesel, biogas, hydrogen) with the prospect of a sustainable future.