The Ministry of Environmental Protection has announced a call for the implementation of measures in 2024
In recent years, the Republic of Serbia has been dedicated to green transition and sustainable development as a global initiative, ensuring economic growth and development while preserving the environment and achieving the well-being of its people. The green transition also includes transitioning from a linear to a circular economy, aligning with the UN Agenda 2030 goals and reducing climate change in line with the Paris Agreement. The economy plays a key role in this transition by adopting new business models to save resources and energy and reduce water, air, and soil pollution. Circular economy principles are achieved through optimising production processes, applying the Best Available Techniques (BAT), circular product design, proper waste management, implementing energy efficiency measures, utilising renewable energy sources, as well as adhering to standards and voluntary instruments.
To make examples of good practice more visible, the Ministry of Environmental Protection of the Republic of Serbia, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), launched the initiative “Accept the Circular Challenge” in 2022. The initiative was aimed at socially responsible companies that implement circular economy and sustainable development principles in their business operations, thus contributing to the preservation of the environment, human health, and demonstrating their commitment to the community. Many companies accepted the challenge, out of which ten were selected to present their planned measures at a conference held on December 21, 2022.
This year, the presentation of good practices and innovations that contribute to the green transition of our society green continues. We invite you to apply for the new challenge call and present one of your planned measures at the conference that will be organised on November 15, 2023. At the same conference, you will have the opportunity to learn about the achievements of the companies that presented their plans in the previous year.
The initiative involves proposing a measure that will be implemented in 2024, focusing on the implementation of the circular economy and sustainable business concept. The measure must result in a concrete resource or energy saving, with results presented through measurable indicators.
The event will receive media coverage, to showcase how companies in Serbia operate as leaders in the green transition and examples of good practice in sustainable business.
A professional committee will select the ten best ideas from the submitted applications, which will be presented at the conference on November 15, 2023. Selected companies will be obligated to implement the measure by the end of 2024 and present the results at an event organised to showcase the outcomes and examples of good practice at the end of 2024. Companies engaged in the production of tobacco and alcohol products are not eligible for the initiative.
Applications for this challenge call are exclusively submitted electronically by filling out the form which can be found HERE.
The deadline for applications is November 1, 2023, via email to: cirkularna@eko.gov.rs
For additional information regarding the initiative, you can contact Aleksandra Vučinić, Head of the Department for Circular Economy and Sustainable Development, by email: aleksandra.vucinic@eko.gov.rs or by phone: 011/311-0713.