Studie für die GD Umwelt

A Framework for Member States to Support Business in Improving its Resource Efficiency

An Analysis of support measures applied in the EU-28

Publication: Report
Citation: Hirschnitz-Garbers, M., Hinzmann, M., Watkins, E., ten Brink, P., Milios, L. and Soleille, S. (2015). A framework for Member States to support business in improving its resource efficiency. Final Report for DG Environment, November 2015.

In order to support businesses in improving their resource efficiency, Member States use a variety of approaches, ranging from voluntary to regulatory measures. This study assesses the scope of application of ten relevant measures and provides good practice cases across Member States. Through data gathering on Member State level, this study found a wide range of successful examples of measures, varying by country and region. A number of lessons learnt can be drawn from their application; these are useful for the design of support measures in other Member States. The study is available for download.

Many of the support measures investigated could be more systematically adopted, building on the lessons learnt from where they have proven to be a success. Therefore, identifying ways of transferring and adapting this knowledge to other Member States in their respective context(s) will be instrumental in fostering business resource efficiency across the EU.

Fostering the exchange of good practice examples and lessons learnt, both on Member State level and through facilitation by European institutions, could well serve this task. Hence, this could enable businesses, and especially SMEs, to improve both their environmental and their financial performance. In many cases, EU funding and support enabled Member States to initiate business resource efficiency support in the first place. Therefore, using EU funding to finance international best practice exchange, as well as maintaining and better integrating EU funding with national funding needs and mechanisms, seems promising to support businesses in improving their resource efficiency.

Citation annexes: Hirschnitz-Garbers, M., Hinzmann, M., Watkins, E., ten Brink, P., Milios, L., Soleille, S. et al. (2015). A framework for Member States to support business in improving its resource efficiency. Annexes to the Final Report for DG Environment, November 2015.

Citation executive summary: Hirschnitz-Garbers, M. and Hinzmann, M. (2015). A framework for Member States to support business in improving its resource efficiency. Executive Summary to the Final Report for DG Environment, November 2015.

Member States can support businesses in improving their resource efficiency through looking at various measures and adapting them to the respective contexts.

Policy Measures to Support Resource Efficiency in Business – Scope of Application in the EU-28

Year 2015

A Framework for Member States to Support Business in Improving its Resource Efficiency

Jan - Oct 2015

Language

English

Authorship

Dr. Martin Hirschnitz-Garbers

Mandy Hinzmann

Emma Watkins (IEEP)

Patrick ten Brink (IEEP)

Leonidas Milios (BIO by deloitte)

Sebastien Soleille (BIO by deloitte)

Credits

With contributions by: Christian Hudson, Ana Frelih-Larsen, Gerardo Anzaldua, Zoritza Kiresiewa (Ecologic Institute); Kristof Geraerts, Kamila Paquel, Andrea Illes (IEEP); Dana Huranova, Paula Marghiloman, Constance von Briskorn, Andreas Mitsios, Linas Tamutis, Natalja Saburova, Britt Marie Kutser, Valerie Anne Morgan (BIO by deloitte)

Acknowledgments: We are grateful to national experts from different institutions for all 28 Member States for having provided valuable information and comments on the national level information.

Funding

European Commission, Directorate-General Environment (DG Environment), International

Year

2015

Dimension

79 pp.

Project

A Framework for Member States to Support Business in Improving its Resource Efficiency

Project ID

Table of contents

Click to show full table of contents

1. Introduction
1.1. Project background
1.2. Project aim and project logic
2. Application of the ten support measures in the EU
2.1. Support for industrial symbiosis
2.1.1. Good practice examples
2.1.2. Lessons learnt from the application of the support measure
2.2. Incentivising external audits to support resource efficiency
2.2.1. Good practice examples
2.2.2. Lessons learnt from the application of the support measure
2.3. Improving financing
2.3.1. Good practice examples
2.3.2. Lessons learnt from the application of the support measure
2.4. Supporting voluntary agreements and initiatives
2.4.1. Good practice examples
2.4.2. Lessons learnt from the application of the support measure
2.5. Providing targeted resource efficiency information and advice to companies
2.5.1. Good practice examples
2.5.2. Lessons learnt from the application of the support measure
2.6. Building resource efficiency related skills and capacity within a company/business
2.6.1. Good practice examples
2.6.2. Lessons learnt from the application of the support measure
2.7. Improving company accounting and reporting practices
2.7.1. Good practice examples
2.7.2. Lessons learnt from the application of the support measure
2.8. Development of non-legal standards for products and services
2.8.1. Good practice examples
2.8.2. Lessons learnt from the application of the support measure
2.9. Measures supporting extended producer responsibility (EPR) for materials and/or products
2.9.1. Good practice examples
2.9.2. Lessons learnt from the application of the support measure
2.10. Any other non-legislative support measures promoting a Circular Economy and resource efficiency
2.10.1. Good practice examples
2.10.2. Lessons learnt from the application of the support measure
3. Overall synthesis and recommendations
3.1. Pointers for promising support measures
3.2. Lessons learnt from applying the support measures – success factors as pointers for transfer?
4. Conclusion
5. References used

Keywords

Economics

EU

Evaluation

Resource Conservation + Circular Economy

resource efficiency, support measure, business, industry, EU-28

Further Links

ProjectA Framework for Member States to Support Business in Improving its Resource Efficiency

Business resource efficiency is seen by the EU as a key to a sustainable future of a competitive European economy. Increasing resource efficiency of business aids to reduce waste, decrease the pressure on the environment, increase the competitiveness of European markets... Read more

A Framework for Member States to Support Business in Improving its Resource Efficiency

Duration: Jan - Oct 2015
Funding: European Commission, Directorate-General Environment (DG Environment), International