European Commission invests €220m in circular projects

The European Commission has approved an investment package of €222.7 million (£198 million) from the EU budget to support Europe's transition to a more sustainable and low-carbon future.

The EU funding will spur additional circular economy investments, leading to a total of €398.6 million (£354 million) to be invested into 144 new projects in 23 member states for a better environment and climate action.

Among the investment of financial support, which comes from the LIFE programme, the EU’s funding instrument for the environment and climate action, €323.5 million (£288 million) will go to projects in the field of environment and resource efficiency, nature and biodiversity and environmental governance and information.

The projects are part of the Commission's commitment to its flagship and in-development circular economy package, with many of the awards being granted to help member states best make the transition to a more resource-efficient circular economy.

Examples of projects in 2016 include new energy-saving hydrogen-electric garbage trucks in Belgium, technologies for reducing the health risks of sludge in wastewater pioneered in Italy, and a project to help Greek municipalities increase recycling rates.

Projects support the EU's target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 40 per cent by 2030, contributing to the shift towards a low carbon and climate resilient economy. The investments support the EU's implementation of the Paris Agreement, which deals with greenhouse gas emissions within the UN and went into effect on 4 November 2016.

Relatively simply ideas creating profitable green businesses

Announcing the investments, Commissioner for the Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Karmenu Vella said: "I am delighted to see that this year again our LIFE programme will support many innovative projects to address our common environmental challenges.

“LIFE-funded projects use relatively little funding and simple ideas to create profitable green businesses that deliver on the transition to a low-carbon and circular economy."

Miguel Arias Cañete, Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy, added: "These projects will create the right conditions to promote innovative solutions and spread best practices in reducing emission and adapting to climate change across the European Union.”