Deadline: 29-Jul-21
The EPA’s Green Enterprise: Innovation for a Circular Economy is inviting applications to support innovators in Ireland to develop, demonstrate and implement circular economy approaches in their business models. It is managed through the EPA’s National Waste Prevention Programme and is co-funded by EPA Research.
Applications are invited support Irish businesses develop circular solutions in product and service design, production, distribution and use of resources (including resources and raw materials). The fund is aimed at business-ready innovative projects targeting the area of food; plastic; construction & demolition and resources & raw materials. Circular business models contribute to a climate-neutral, resource-efficient economy, but also offer competitive opportunities, and appeal to customers and consumers looking for sustainable options.
Objectives
The funding is aimed at stimulating an operating environment in Ireland where resource efficiency and the circular economy can thrive. The objectives are:
- Enhance competitiveness and resilience
- Influence and inform policy
Thematic Areas
- Plastics waste prevention- Potential proposal areas:
- Redesign of products or packaging to replace non-recyclable plastic with recyclable plastic or replace virgin plastic with recyclable plastic.
- Redesign of products for ease of recycling at end-of-life.
- Prevention of plastic waste during production processes.
- Elimination of hazardous chemicals from plastic products.
- Reuse/leasing business models for plastic products, reducing the need for plastic packaging and single use products.
- Elimination/capture of microplastics during production or waste management lifecycles.
- Construction & demolition waste prevention- Potential proposal areas:
- Information on the composition of material in existing buildings.
- Standardising secondary raw materials.
- Circular construction products (products that can be reused or with increased lifespan)
- Reduce absolute and per capita construction & demolition waste generation.
- Selective demolition to enable removal of hazardous materials and facilitate reuse and recycling.
- Food waste prevention- Potential proposal areas:
- Promoting innovative waste prevention solutions across the food production and food processing sectors.
- Implementing technical and behavioural interventions to reduce food waste in commercial settings.
- Innovative solutions to gathering and sharing reliable and accurate food waste information to identify areas for improvement and to measure progress.
- Resources and raw materials- Potential proposal areas:
- New business models for reuse.
- Opportunities for preparation for reuse.
- Reducing the content of hazardous substances in materials and products.
- Increase recovery of listed critical raw materials.
Funding Information
- The 2021 call is now open with a fund worth €625k.
- Applications for funding in the range of €50k-€100k are invited.
- The maximum funding available is €100,000 subject to compliance with State Aid De Minimis rules.
Outcomes
Outcomes will:
- Impact on Circular Economy and SDG objectives and targets
- Inform Government policy
Target audience
Green Enterprise is seeking innovative projects that will have a direct impact on business and industry operating environments and provide demonstration and evidence for circular economy in Ireland.
For more information, visit EPA.
For more information, visit https://www.epa.ie/our-services/research/epa–research-funding/epa-green-enterprise-scheme/
